A Monte Carlo technique for computing the benefits arising from the interconnection of power systems

Interconnections between power systems can provide improved levels of reliability, lead to opportunities for reductions in the installed generating capacity of each system. The authors discuss the evaluation of these reliability improvements, and in particular, using them as a basis for allocating the costs of both interconnections and the generating plant to the individual systems. A number of factors which affect the reliability improvements are identified and a computer program that allows these benefits to be determined efficiently is described. The discussion is illustrated by examples drawn from existing and possible future power system configurations in Australia