Making transmission systems smart: An opportunity which should not be missed

In this paper we point out that while many efforts are under way to making distribution systems smart, very little serious attention has been given to rethinking the enhancements of transmission systems. Future electric energy systems are likely to require a qualitatively different management of the existing transmission system in order to enable their rapidly changing needs and objectives. The dominant flow patterns may change in such significant ways that it will become unavoidable to re-direct flows in order to serve the medium and low voltage needs. The bulk transmission system will have to rely on much more automation in response to on-line sensing and communication if it is to ensure reliable and efficient power balancing required by the ever-changing needs of the distribution- and subtransmission-system users. Sooner or later, many portfolia of smaller distributed resources (both consumers and prosumers) will have multi-lateral self-committing arrangements for energy services. Depending on the scale of such novel resources, the need for smarter information exchange and coordination across all system levels (transmission, sub-transmission and distribution) and within each level will become essential. The effects of many DERs on the delivery system as a whole are likely to be significant.