Consumers are using more electricity in more ways than ever before to power complex, sensitive computerized equipment in the workplace and at home. However, many of the grids supporting America’s high-tech culture are still low-tech, employing technologies developed decades ago. Old power delivery technologies are no longer good enough.
Edison International Chairman John E. Bryson today predicted smart grid technologies pioneered by Southern California Edison (SCE), could one day help prevent cascading power blackouts such as the Northeast blackout of August 2003 that affected 50 million utility customers in eight states and Canada.
Bryson told the committee that many distribution grids – the networks that carry power to homes and businesses – are both expanding and aging. And though utilities like Southern California Edison are investing at record levels, he cautioned, however, against investing in the same old circuit designs and components.
Building a smarter grid means challenging grid component suppliers to produce plug-and-play devices compatible with other smart devices, reducing utility and customer costs. One challenge grid operators face is knowing what is happening throughout the transmission grid, in real time, and having adequate controls to respond fast enough to prevent problems before they affect customers. A related challenge faced by operators is isolating problems on the distribution grid.
Calling some current U.S. grid components “dinosaurs,” Bryson urged legislators to support substantial new utility investments in “smarter” transmission and distribution technologies.
“Even momentary interruptions can now cause significant economic loss for business customers due to the increasing sophistication of their equipment,” said Bryson. “And residential customers are using more advanced digital home electronics resulting in higher expectations of service from their local utility. Old power delivery technologies are no longer good enough.”
SCE’s new Avanti Circuit, expected to go into service in summer 2007, will be the most advanced distribution circuit in the country. Its fault-current limiters smart circuit breakers, and advanced voltage-support devices will be capable of isolating it from problems on adjoining circuits, and vice versa; limiting the number of customers affected.
SCE’s vision of a smart grid is based on technology solutions that are now within reach, many of them deployed on SCE’s grid. Key elements include interoperability, better information and control, and advanced security.
“Our company is leading the development of a sophisticated new technology called Synchronous Phasor Measurement that measures stress on utility transmission grids,” said Bryson. “As we combine this advanced monitoring system with new digital control technologies we expect to be able to identify and help halt most potential cascading blackouts.
“A high-tech world can no longer afford a low-tech electricity grid,” said Bryson. “Together we must build the smart electricity grid of the future.”
The Synchronous Phasor Measurement system, an integration of hardware and software that SCE engineers have pioneered during the past 12 years, captures millions of grid stress-point measurements, analyzes them, and synthesizes data into a simple visual representation that allows operators to almost instantly see where action is needed to avoid widespread electric system collapses.
