Integrated steel facilities, as well as mini-mills, depend on reliable electric power in order to maintain production targets in an intensely competitive marketplace. At the same time, these facilities seldom integrate detailed energy usage with other product cost metrics, even though electric power is one of the largest product cost contributors. Although insufficient technology and long-standing organizational barriers have been primary contributors to the lack of integration, recent technological advancements are starting to reverse the trend. This paper addresses the developments in electric power control and communications systems that provide for much greater integration with other plant control systems. It also discusses methods by which plant operators can take advantage of these technologies to make business and operational improvements.
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