Power distribution system reliability planning using a fuzzy knowledge-based approach

Electric power distribution system reliability is defined as the ability to deliver uninterrupted service to customers. Deregulation of the electric power industry has forced utilities to face new challenges and to evaluate the cost-benefit implications of providing an acceptable level of service. This paper presents a fuzzy knowledge-based approach for reliability planning purposes. This approach makes a direct assessment of the circuit configuration and hazards and assigns each section and feeder a relative risk index by expressing the configuration variables mathematically using fuzzy logic. Results obtained using the fuzzy model on actual utility feeder data are presented and the correlation between the fuzzy model results and actual feeder performance is obtained. Determination of the highest risk feeders and of the feeders which benefit the most from a given reliability improvement project are the major goals of the paper.