Power system optimal meter placement a comparitive numeric and genetic approach

Accurate monitoring of power system operation has become a very important function in today´s deregulated power markets and thus, state estimators have become the essential tools of choice for the implementation of this function. Determination of the best possible combination of meters for monitoring a given power system is referred to as the optimal meter placement. Whether a new state estimator is put into service or an existing one is being .upgraded, placing new meters for improving or maintaining reliability and the observability of the measurement system, is of great concern. This paper reports on a unified approach of optimal and economic meter placement against loss of multiple measurements, outages of multiple branches and bus splitting. The paper also compares the qualitative method to the intelligent approach.