Operational-planning software realizes production cost savings

A comprehensive operation-planning software package installed in 1981 to forecast system loads, optimally schedule thermal and hydro units, estimate future prices of power transactions, and perform postanalysis is described. System operation goals and operational planning needs are discussed. The software is described. The use of postanalysis to document savings is examined. When the postanalysis program began in 1986, the overall performance index for the pool was 96.5. Three years later, this index went up to 99.452, meaning that the pool was operated at about 0.548% away from the perfect optimum.<
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