Optimizing transmission path utilization in Idaho Power

A new line current profile based dynamic line rating system has been implemented at Idaho Power Company by real-time exchange of data with Energy Management System and real-time weather data from the Internet. Increased utilization of transmission critical path is made possible by wide-area real-time dynamic rating using Internet based weather data. Economic analysis shows significant benefit of operating transmission lines at higher ratings by taking advantage of favorable weather conditions during overload conditions. A case study of an internal transmission interface including the Brownlee East path in Idaho Power using the new dynamic line rating system and an associated overload mitigation system is presented. It is shown there is minimum risk of overloading a circuit by increased transmission path utilization under N-1 contingency conditions.