Advanced distribution management will define next-generation energy providers

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In a previous post, I introduced ADMS, the Advanced Distribution Management System – a solution that enables an electric utility to deliver reliable service, even as energy demand continuously increases and morphs. Here’s how –

An ADMS can display network data in a geographic view, a schematic view, and in single-line diagrams, to serve the operators, dispatchers, planning engineers, and others involved in distribution management; it must be flexible enough to support the format desired by each utility.

The ADMS pre-processes data from network points, to eliminate bad data, estimate non-telemetered points, and resolve any issues with ‘time skew’ for unsynchronized telemetry systems. This function allows network state estimation with the highest possible precision. Then, with optimized state estimation, the ADMS can identify problems and suggest approaches to better balance load, suggest switching to minimize losses, and identify other potential and real problems, as well as likely solutions.

It provides the utility with options to manage demand, by –

• identifying where losses are occurring and recommending, or automatically controlling, network devices and switches accordingly
• automatically or manually controlling load tap changers, voltage regulators, and capacitors, to maintain voltage profiles and manage demand within regulatory limits, during peak events or as a normal mode of operation
• monitoring, analyzing, and ultimately controlling energy storage to flatten the daily load curve

Further, the ADMS manages disconnectable ‘microgrids’ created by isolated points of distributed generation while maintaining safe and reliable power.

As part of a Smart Grid strategy, the Advanced DMS will help the utility provide reliable energy and maintain a sustainability strategy – and transition into a next-generation energy provider.