New distribution control centre-decision making and support

Historically, distribution control centres were geared towards operations on the nationalised electricity companies networks. Operational safety, network integrity and security of supplies to customers were the prime factors to be considered by the “true” utility. Now the electricity companies are “service providers” requiring better and clever facilities to provide “information” to customers. There are now demands on control engineers from other parts of the “electricity business”. Solutions in ScottishPower are seen to be a technology lead. Solutions can be categorised into 3 main headings: maintain the “status quo” by increasing size of premises (and staff numbers in control) and providing separate customer service information; install “state-of-the-art” technology to provide all necessary facilities for control and customer information systems; and use a “building block” approach to install some facilities at day one but extra requirements can be catered for when needs, data availability, and technology dictates. ScottishPower chose the third option. The building block-ICOND (integrated control and operations network diagram) promotes a base system of an electronic (wallpower) high voltage diagram with full-connectivity model. This enabled a single control centre to be set up to ensure operational safety, network integrity and security of supplies for customers company wide