ABSTRACT
Electricity networks worldwide are entering a period of change that is necessitating improving methods of control and management. This chapter covers the elements of the upper three control layers as they influence control and automation of distribution networks. It introduces areas where system design is crucial and further study recommended. Power system operation requires the balance to be maintained between security, economy, and quality while delivering electrical energy from the generating source to satisfy the demands of the end user. The manner in which distribution networks are operated is influenced by the lack of remote control and real-time monitoring, requiring considerable manual intervention for decision making and restoration. Distribution management system (DMS) configurations and implementation strategies will vary depending on the "champion" within the organization. Trouble call-based outage management was the first approach for including customer information in network operations.
