The reliability of an electric utility transmission system is ameasure of its ability to continuously meet the demands of all itscustomers (i.e., points of delivery). Enhancing the supply reliabilityis one of planning and design targets of any utility within theconstraints of capital investments, intense free market competition,variable and higher level of customer preferences and safety andenvironmental considerations. The utilization of transmission systemfacilities is changing from its traditional role in this new deregulatedera and raising significant concerns about the possible erosion of thereliability of utility transmission facilities. It has been recognizedthat the movement towards a deregulated and competitive electricitymarket, decisions to improve reliability will be heavily influenced byindustrial and commercial customer preferences requiring service levelbenchmarks to be defined. This paper presents an approach to establishrealistic transmission system reliability performance benchmarks thatprovide a measure against which the different planning and designprocedures can be evaluated to assist in achieving the primary objectiveof providing reliable electricity with competitive rates to utilitycustomers
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