Integrating a power quality monitoring system in a distribution control center

This paper describes a power quality monitoring system to be integrated in a distribution energy control center of a Brazilian electric utility. The monitoring system comprises several monitoring units located at individual service entrances connected to secondary master stations, modems and the host computer at the distribution energy control center. The hardware and software of the monitoring instrument are described as well as communication software between the monitoring units and the master station. The utility has evaluated the monitoring system, onsite, in a pilot project, with satisfactory results, assuring low cost, high performance, high reliability and capability of integration with the energy distribution control center.