Production Costing Using the Cumulant Method of Representing the Equivalent Load Curve

Generation system planning models use extensive numerical calculations for determining generation unit expected fuel burns. This paper introduces a production costing algorithm for a thermal system which uses an analytical approximation to expedite the calculations of expected generation (using cumulants to represent the equivalent load distribution). The analytical approximation allows for the introduction of increased speed and accuracy ( as in valve point dispatch and the representation of derating steps).