Reliability and tools for our times

Of grave concern is the decline in the reliability of our bulk electric power systems brought on by restructuring. Conditions on our transmission systems have affected the installed capacity needed and how it should be operated. Some of the existing software packages that are being used to make reliability evaluations and to plan and operate systems are inadequate and should be used with careful restraint while new tools are being developed and coordinated with evolving institutional arrangements. To solve our reliability problems, additional technology is needed. Those developing needed software and computer methods should be made aware of the problems that are occurring on our transmission system and what it will take to solve them. This article provides some specific examples of these areas of concern.