On data quality and availability modeling of power grid phasor measurements

United States `Smart Grid' initiatives envision very reliable, available synchro-phasor data as a cornerstone for improving electric power grid efficiency and reliability. However through early 2012, power system operators report that synchro-phasor data availability falls short of the levels required to realize the vision. This paper proposes phasor measurement unit (PMU) reliability and synchrophasor data availability models, using reliability block diagrams and Markov chains. These models highlight causes for reduced synchrophasor data availability and suggest approaches for assuring very high synchrophasor data availability.