Impact of AMI Data Time Granularity on Quasi-Static Time-Series Load Flow Simulation

AMI data allows highly detailed representation of distribution system loads in quasi-static time-series load flow (QSTS) simulations but requires managing large data volumes. Reducing the time granularity of AMI data reduces the data volume but can harm the detail and accuracy of QSTS simulations. This paper analyzes the accuracy of QSTS simulations with different time granularities of AMI load profiles. Three time granularities (5-min, 15-min, and 60-min) common to today's AMI deployments are compared against a higher 1-min time granularity. The QSTS simulation results show that while lower time granularities of AMI data may capture feeder operation in general at the medium-voltage level, AMI data with high granularity is necessary to accurately capture feeder maximum element loadings and minimum node voltages particularly in the low-voltage secondary circuits.