pwr_february-2025 - 35

OUTAGE MANAGEMENT
Grid Automation Software
The executives who spoke with POWER
said grid automation software is critical
for utilities and grid operators in support
of improved electricity transmission delivery.
The software enables connections
and protections, and when integrated
with smart grid tech such as voltage
regulators, capacitors, reclosers, switchgear,
sensors, and more can help improve
transmission system reliability and
often reduce operating costs.
" Grid automation software automates
the fault isolation and restoration process,
reducing the need for large field
crews to manually handle these tasks.
Restoration times are calculated more
accurately through real-time data insights,
and the utility can deploy crews
into the field more strategically by first
assessing the severity and scope of the
outage, " said Giroux-Maltais. " To put it
simply, automated systems improve efficiency
by centralizing operations, allowing
the utility to deploy the right number
of field workers to the right place the
first time to minimize service disruption
for its members. "
Walkingshaw told POWER that software
upgrades " provide three critical
advantages for outage management.
First, they enable comprehensive realtime
monitoring across hybrid systems,
processing millions of data points to detect
subtle pattern changes that might
indicate impending issues. Second, they
facilitate intelligent load management
through advanced predictive analytics,
particularly valuable when managing
complex systems combining traditional
power sources with newer technologies
like flywheel energy storage systems, in
our case. Third, they enhance cybersecurity
protocols, which has become increasingly
crucial as power infrastructure
becomes more interconnected. Our experience
has shown the value of owning
our software stack, giving us total control
of the modern software systems that
are essential for maintaining grid stability
while responding to unplanned events. "
Giroux-Maltais said Eaton is " working
with utilities across North America to improve
outage detection, management,
and response through distribution automation
software such as our Feeder Automation
Manager-Reliability Module,
which is part of our Brightlayer Utilities
suite. This solution intelligently detects
grid disturbances, isolates faults, and
automatically reconfigures the grid to
restore service to unaffected areas. The
software integrates fault location, isolaFebruary
2025 | POWER
tion, and service restoration capabilities,
enabling the utility to minimize the
duration and impact of outages across
its distribution network. " Giroux-Maltais
added, " It is important to flag that
FLISR capabilities differ from an outage
management system. The latter handles
customer communication and crew
management during an outage, whereas
FLISR capabilities are aimed directly at
grid automation functionality. "
Keefe detailed how this technology
supports utilities and grid operators as
they work to make the electricity delivery
system more reliable and resilient.
" Advanced sensing protection and
controls build on the foundational advanced
metering
infrastructure
and
advanced
distribution management systems,
which enable maximization of use
cases from complementary technologies
such as fault location, isolation, and service
restoration, " said Keefe. " DER and
microgrid integration and utilization can
develop as ADMS modules or interconnected
systems. Bidirectional charging,
grid-forming inverters, and smart grid
chips communicating real-time data further
enable integration. Finally, utilities
are starting to deploy AI for resilience.
Use cases include pre-outage and outage
prediction and monitoring, and enhanced
real-time grid operations. "
Giroux-Maltais said, " By applying distribution
automation software solutions
and advancing metering devices, utilities
are significantly reducing outage frequency
and duration, while helping to reduce
truck rolls and time for utility crews.
That's because these types of upgrades
can automate fault detection, isolation
and service restoration, reducing the
need for manual investigation and intervention.
They also integrate seamlessly
with existing legacy systems, allowing
utilities to modernize operations without
replacing current infrastructure. "
The Eaton executive provided a realworld
example. " Carroll Electric Membership
Corporation (EMC) in western
Georgia utilizes 250 intelligent electronic
devices across its distribution network
and our Feeder Automation Manager-Reliability
Module to automatically
isolate damaged sections and restore
power to as many people as possible.
Since the start of initial deployments in
2014, this distribution automation program
has helped the utility continually
reduce its System Average Interruption
Duration Index [SAIDI] year-over-year. "
Giroux-Maltais said, " In 2022 alone,
Carroll EMC calculated that Eaton's
www.powermag.com
[module] reduced outage time by about
75 minutes. The utility anticipates a 41%
reduction in outage duration, including
34% reduction from the three-phase deployment
and an additional 7% reduction
from the single-phase project as Carroll
EMC continues to expand deployment of
our FLISR technology. "
Advanced Digital Technologies
Keefe said project resiliency targets often
revolve around shorter outage duration
and faster restoration. " Unlocking
the potential of DER to better manage
power outages requires advanced digital
technologies to enable active management,
and could deliver cost savings to
utilities and customers. While controls
to manage DER in real time require significant
utility investment, DER management
includes least-cost mechanisms
such as time-of-use rates and demand
response for programmable thermostats
that have been operating for decades
with simple controls, " Keefe said.
Keefe added, " Studies commissioned
by the states of California and New York
show that managed electrification could
lower the cost of distribution upgrades
needed through 2035 by more than $30
billion in each of these states. That's because
building efficiency measures and
smart devices to manage energy usage
and smooth EV charging could reduce
capital spending on new substations,
transformers, feeders, and other distribution
equipment. "
Keefe referenced a Department of Energy
program designed to reward companies
working on grid upgrades. " Grid
Resilience and Innovation Partnership
[GRIP] awards provide a window into
the needed technical capabilities and
software upgrades that can help power
plant operators and grid managers better
manage power outages. The first round
of GRIP provided funding to 24 investorowned
utilities [IOUs]. All but two of the
awarded projects cover distribution. "
Keefe said, " The projects range from
infrastructure replacement and hardening
to AI deployments. The figure below
[Figure 5] shows all IOUs awarded GRIP
grid resilience and smart grid grants,
with projects categorized according to
a distribution investment prioritization
pyramid, where each level builds on the
preceding one. Basic distribution automation
projects among IOU awardees
involve sectionalization, or dividing feeders
into sections so that utilities can
isolate a fault on one feeder to a small
area while restoring power to adjoin35
http://www.powermag.com
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