Managing MV networks for quality of service

In today's deregulated marketplace, simply delivering power to customers is no longer sufficient; utilities must provide a certain level of quality of service and must deliver the commodity safely, reliably, and cost-effectively. Moreover, information traditionally used only within a given utility is now desired by many players, since the integration, consolidation, and dissemination of information both inter- and intra-utility has become a critical part of the deregulation picture. Exponential advances in hardware, software, and communication equipment allow the transportation, storing, and manipulation of vast quantities of data at blinding speed relative to just a few years ago. As a result, utilities have shifted their focus to information technology and automation to optimize operations and improve the bottom line. This article proposes a global approach for the management and control of medium-voltage (MV) networks. The efficiency of this approach is analyzed in terms of quality of service, optimization of investment, optimization of installation, maintenance, and simplification of operation.