Lightning information for use in power systems analysis: how much more do we need to know?

Lightning-related behaviors of electric power systems can now be explained by a variety of concepts and models. Over the last 25 years, real-time lightning detection systems have contributed to our ability to use this knowledge in a number of practical ways. Although many applications of lightning information do not require detailed models or parameters measurement, a number of quantitative applications related to "cause and effect" do. In these cases, there is a mismatch between the number and specificity of the parameters of the models, and our ability to measure these parameters using today's practical lightning detection systems. This paper briefly discusses the lightning parameters that affect power system performance, and what real-time information we are able to obtain with today's lightning detection technologies. The paper concludes with some thoughts about what could be the next steps in improving the information provided by real-time lightning detection systems, if such improvements are really needed.