IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - January/February 2020 - 20

✔

Other ancillary services include standby reserve power
and black start resources that can begin generating after
an outage without power from the grid.
Utilities are adopting newer nonwires alternatives
(NWAs), such as applications of energy storage at
both the T&D level to serve customers at a competitive rate. Energy storage, however, presents a unique
challenge as it represents a grid resource when discharging and a load when charging.
New sensors and control systems are being included
in the grid. Newer and more advanced technologies,
such as fault location, isolation, and service restoration; volt/var optimization (VVO); and others are being added to the network, many of which are capable
of functioning in an automated manner.
Existing electromechanical devices are being replaced
by electronic ones. Many old electromechanical meters
have been replaced by smart meters, and solid-state
transformers are now demonstrating the capability to replace existing transformers. Utilities are seeing an influx
of electronics and power electronics on the grid.
Retail choice introduces new competitors. New industry
participants will likely arise and provide services as the
electric utility becomes more automated and additional
information available to both the utility and customers.
Retail choice is more of a local jurisdictional issue and
in the United States will depend on state-level policies.
There will be similar situations around the world.
It is now common for the customer, or a customer representative, to install distributed generation in the system. Although large customer-owned generation was

evident in the transmission system, smaller customerowned generation has now become more routine in the
distribution system, and the number and amount of
such smaller gensets is increasing at a dramatic pace.
In many cases, the utility lacks the ability to monitor,
control, or dispatch customer-installed generation.
✔ Customer expectations are changing. Customers now expect rapid responses from their utility using smartphone
apps that provide instant feedback on the status of service, including outages, accurate estimated time of restoration, energy consumption, and power quality.
Applications of new technologies to the grid include distributed energy resources (DERs), electric cars, electric storage,
and other types of energy storage. Some storage will be implemented by the utility and some by the customer; some will be
applied to the transmission system and some will be on the distribution system. New technologies coupled with changes in the
behavior of the grid will affect virtually all aspects of utility
operations for the foreseeable future. As the New York REV
process has confirmed, practices as varied as planning, system
operations, field services, and customer services will change,
possibly in ways that we do not yet understand. These dynamic
conditions require a new approach to training system operators in necessary skills. This article focuses on the effect the
aforementioned changes will have on distribution planning
and operations.

To Address Changes, New Systems Are
Being Identified and Implemented
For several years, distribution was either the domain of customer or field operations. The main focus was a combination

Enhanced Performance and Diagnostics
Distribution Intelligence
Power Plant Transmission/Substation Intelligence
Automated Feeder Switches
Phasor Measurement Units * Microprocessor* Capacitor Controllers
Based Protection * Digital Disturbance
* Fault Indicators * Throw-Over Switch
Recorders * Intelligent Electronic
and Network Protector Monitors
Devices

Home
Energy
Controllers

Smart
Meter

Grid Integration
of Distributed
Generation

Workforce
Education
Curriculum

Customer
Education

figure 1. A conceptual model of the smart grid. (©Smartgrid.gov. Source: https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2014/
08/f18/SmartGrid-SystemReport2014.pdf)
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ieee power & energy magazine

january/february 2020

http://www.Smartgrid.gov https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2014/

IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - January/February 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - January/February 2020