Application of distributed intelligence to automatic distribution reconfiguration for reliability improvement

Summary form only given. The case study demonstrates how advanced distributed intelligence solved a problem facing a small utility in North Carolina. The utility was being threatened with relocation by a large retail store whose managers felt was not receiving sufficiently reliable power. The typical approaches of line upgrades or installation of source-transfer switchgear were either too expensive or unacceptable to the store owner. In addition, available alternate circuits either were not reliable enough, or had insufficient capacity available to service the load. A way to achieve an automated solution was required. This paper discusses the challenges faced, in detail; the potential solutions and the final solution implemented. A discussion of the underlying techniques used to implement advanced distributed intelligence in a distribution automation scheme is also presented.