Aspects of reliability simulation [of distribution systems]

Computer simulation of power distribution systems has been available to utilities for decades. Load-flow, fault, and even reliability analysis have been fundamental to planning activities. An important difference between these planning simulations and today´s reliability simulation is that the former is used by engineers and reported within an engineering audience. The latter is used by engineers and reported within a wider audience of planning and operations managers, customer support managers, utility executives, utility commissions and even energy customers. This paper discusses the challenges of reliability simulation and suggests how these challenges can be met