Centralized operation of the Portuguese high voltage distribution electrical network

Throughout this paper we start by making a brief introduction to the new internal organizational model adopted by EDP (Electricity de Portugal) in the distribution area and its implications on network operation, followed by a small presentation and characterization of the EDP-Distribuicao electrical network. We present Porto´s HV (High Voltage) Dispatch Center and its activities (processes and tasks), namely the intervention area, support systems, the goals to achieve, the future perspectives, and, taking six years of accumulated experience into consideration, we refer to the needs and problems felt, as well as to the solutions that were implemented and the ones to be applied in the near future. Finally we discuss some relevant activities of the HV dispatch: analyzing/operating in perturbation period; unavailability network elements operation; malfunction network elements operation; testing new installations; and creating procedure documents and protocols with high voltage clients