A CIM-based Approach to Update AEP’s EMS Model in PJM® Territory

The Accuracy of network models in Energy Management System (EMS) significantly impacts quality of online studies). For many years, the modeling of external grids in EMS remains challenging for well interconnected entities. This paper hereby presents a practical approach for external model integration, maintenance and upgrades. Taking advantage of the Common Information Model (CIM) standard, this approach realizes swift alteration and customization of EMS database. Boundaries between footprints of different entities are hence delineated with necessary attributes integrated based on utility specifications. Moreover, the extensibility of CIM allows aggregation of information provided in different formats, conforming databases to one standardized schema. Till now, the CIM-based method has facilitated multiple rounds of external model updates in the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland Interconnection (PJM) region of American Electric Power (AEP), which is the most interconnected footprint of AEP. Its successful deployment increased efficiency in EMS maintenance and exemplified cross-entity model management for peer utilities.