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Distribution Vision 2010: Planning for
Automation
R. Fanning, Senior Member, IEEE
Abstract-- Utilities are being pushed to provide better service
to customers. High technology customers manufacturing
processes are not as immune to power fluctuations as they once
were. Performance based rates move the utilities to constantly
improve on their service reliability indices. To make matters
more difficult, these have to be accomplished without a rate
increase to the customer. Yet, when is good, good enough? And
how much better can we be using the tried and true planning and
design practices used over the past 50 years. Automation and
advanced distribution systems provide an option for higher
reliability and premium power options. Distribution Vision 2010
is a plan for automated distribution systems implemented in an
incremental manner.
Index Terms — Distribution automation, distribution control,
distributed resources.
I. INTRODUCTION
T His paper presents the vision for an automated
distribution system that is implemented in incremental
steps from today’s radial distribution systems. Future
automated systems will result in higher reliability and more
efficient operation of the entire system.
Table 1 provides an example of the contributions to overall
reliability for a typical power system. It is clear that faults on
the primary distribution system are the most important
contributor to overall reliability experienced by customers,
especially considering the duration of outages experienced.
Table 1 illustrates that the greatest improvements in reliability
can be achieved through reducing the contribution of
distribution system fault events to overall reliability.
Automation provides the opportunity to accomplish this
improved performance.
TABLE I
EXAMPLE OF RELIABILITY CONTRIBUTIONS AT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF THE
SYSTEM FOR NUMBER OF OUTAGES (SAIFI) AND OUTAGE DURATION (SAIDI)
Category SAIFI (%) SAIDI (%)
Transmission < ½% 3%
Substation < ½% 8%
Primary Distribution 47% 83%
Secondary Distribution 52% 6%
R. Fanning is a Senior Engineer with We Energies, Milwaukee, WI (e-mail:
russ.fanning@we-energies.com). R. Huber is Director of the DV 2010 alliance,
Milwaukee, WI (e-mail: robertleehuber@aol.com).
R. Huber, Fellow, IEEE
II. THE DISTRIBUTION AUTOMATION CONCEPT
Overall, network power supplies are the most reliable
means of providing power to distribution customers. The tied
network provides a continuous, uninterrupted supply to the
customer even during system fault conditions. Examples of
network systems exist at both the primary voltage level and
the secondary voltage level. However, the design, operating
concerns, costs and maintenance of such systems can be a
challenge. Open loop and closed loop systems with automatic
reconfiguration and appropriate communication systems can
also approach the reliability of network systems.
The addition of automation for control of line devices
allows the distribution system to be partitioned into
Automated Control Areas called Premium Operating Districts
(PODs). A POD is a customer or a group of customers that is
served between two or more automated interrupting devices,
with sufficient capacity available from either source to
support the load of the “POD” under first contingency
conditions (see Figure 1). The important point is that the
Customer Perceived Reliability is the reliability of the POD,
not the Feeder. The reliability can be determined by the
extent of the POD - small PODs result in high reliability.
Station A Station B
Pod 1 Pod 2 Pod 3 Pod 4 Pod 5 Pod 6
R R R R R
Fig. 1. Concept of Premium Operating Districts (PODs) for reliability
improvement.
III. THE RESEARCH PLAN
The Distribution Vision 2010 consortium is coordinating
the development of new technologies to facilitate the
implementation of automated distribution systems that will
consist of a combination of open loops, closed loops, and
primary networks. Research is needed to solve problems
associated with migration to bi-directional protection,
automatic reconfiguration, and network systems. New
technology will help resolve problems that include:
o Difficult to Coordinate Directional Devices
o Differences in Source Impedance and Phase Angles
o Circulating Currents
o Line Overloading
Initial technologies are already being demonstrated on
actual distribution systems. These technologies include:
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o Improved recloser and recloser control system

o The POD concept
o Improved Communication systems
o Local Area Controller
o System made of a combination of open loops, closed
loops and primary networks
o Elimination of Distribution Dispatcher as first
response
o Move from a reactive mode to a proactive mode

As the automation is implemented on more systems, a wide

area controller provides optimization at the next level. An
initial controller has already been developed for this
application. This is part of a hierarchical control structure
proposed for the overall automation:
Tier 1: Autonomous Protection
Tier 2: Distributed Automation Logic
Tier 3: Local Area Control - Substation
Tier 4: Wide Area Control – Region

An overall research plan has been developed to develop the

needed technologies and demonstrate their application in
actual field trials. Figure 2 illustrates some of the major
development needs in a timeline form.

Fig. 2. Timeline for distribution automation technology development and

demonstration.

IV. CONCLUSIONS
A combination of advanced communication, advanced
technology, distribution system automation, and eventually
networked primary distribution systems will enable us to
make a major improvement in system reliability and system
performance. A consortium approach helps assure that the
technologies developed are widely applicable and meet
general requirements for advancing the industry.