Show It With Colors-connectivity, status, and value information in energy management systems

The problem of determining which power system parts are still supplied with electric power and which are disconnected after a brownout or blackout, a task that requires a skilled operator and/or sophisticated energy management system (EMS) functionalities, is addressed. Finding out in a complex power station which feeders are energized may severely burden the user. Getting an overview of whether a certain network is observable, and thus estimated, or is determined based on nontelemetered, unreliable information is usually outside the operator´s capabilities. A first implementation of Show It With Colors, which aims at improving the operator´s capability to manage the power system by providing information in a more comprehensible form, is described. The discussion covers what is to be shown, priority of information, response time, colors used, updating the colors, bringing the coloring information to the network diagrams, experience with the system, and possible further enhancements.<>