Data management for the electricity market

Electricity markets provide economic signals that encourage network utilization to be maximized. This environment is encouraging network owners and operators to ensure that limits are consistent with actual system conditions. The National Electricity Market Management Company Limited (NEMMCO) is a government agent placed between market participants (generators and retailers) with the roles to manage the electricity market, maintain power system security, and coordinate power system planning. Currently, the eastern Australian states of Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and South Australia are involved in the market. Power system security and coordination of power system planning for electricity markets involve various power system analyses being done by NEMMCO and market participants. Efficiency of the data preparation for analysis and consistency and transparency of the data are important issues. A software system called the Operations and Planning Data Management System (OPDMS) is being developed to support planning and operations functions in the electricity market environment. One of its key features is the automated preparation of input data files for load flow and transient stability studies using the PSSE analysis package. These data files are generated from real-time power system data and, therefore, allow accurate analysis of actual system conditions. OPDMS improves NEMMCO's ability to develop limits that are consistent with actual system conditions.