ABSTRACT
Power system utilities consist of generation, transmission, and distribution functions. Several advances have been made to improve the performance, efficiency, reliability, and security of power systems. The initial design of the electricity industry by Edison in 1881, with AC generation, has changed with several modifications. This design, with its modifications, has led to the development of today’s power system utilities. The design of large-scale electric production has produced AC power at high voltage and current levels. The growth of the industry has led to many innovations, including economy of scale from large hydro, fossil fuel and, recently, small independent power producers (IPP), in what is called distributed generation. The designs of distributed generation have been based on criteria to improve its reliability, load management, and system performance in response to various disturbances. Over the last decade, protection schemes to detect abnormalities, control schemes to stabilize the system, and economic principles to ensure optimal allocation and bidding have all been implemented to ensure a network’s competitiveness in the electric market.
