Analysing power systems using computers

Computer-aided analysis of power systems is becoming more prevalent as a result of reductions in power-engineering manpower, tumbling information-technology costs and a need for more accurate answers. What are the advantages of using computers for systems calculations and what are the pitfalls? The author describes what analysis tools are available, how they can help the power system engineer, and how and when they should be used. He also endeavours to give some guidance on whether the computer-based analysis is best kept in-house or contracted out to others. Five computer-aided analysis projects which were undertaken commercially by the author´s company are described to show the variety of studies which can be carried out using computers and to show how the computer-based analyses can benefit the work. Drawbacks are also discussed