ABSTRACT
Distribution systems are critical subpower networks responsible for delivering power to the customer’s doorstep. Outages and failures within a distribution system have an adverse effect on the customers. The ability of the power network to deliver uninterrupted power to its customers at a prescribed level of quality and security is defined as reliability. There is reliability related to the generation, transmission, and distribution subsystems. In this chapter, we provide a fundamental overview of reliability from the working definition that power system reliability addresses the ability of a system to provide an adequate supply of electric energy while satisfying load requirements as economically as possible with a reasonable level of continuity and quality.
