Economic evaluation of distribution automation for an urban and for a rural system

摘要

Progress in computer and communication technology has made distribution automation realizable. However, many utilities have found it difficult to justify automation based purely on cost-benefit numbers. Restructuring of electric utility industry and unbundling of electric services in the future is likely to make distribution automation more attractive because distribution companies will be operating as independent entities. They will be under increased pressure to improve their performance because their rate of return will be linked to performance. Automation allows utilities to implement flexible control of distribution systems, which can be used to enhance efficiency, reliabbility, and quality of electric service. Flexible control also results in more effective utilization and lifeextension of the existing distribution system infrastructure.