Resiliency metrics quantifying emergency response in a distribution system

TL;DR

This paper develops new resilience metrics for electric distribution systems to evaluate emergency storm response, aiding utilities in improving restoration strategies and reducing costs during storm events.

Contribution

It introduces novel resilience metrics tailored for storm response assessment and demonstrates their practical calculation and potential improvements using historical utility data.

Findings

Metrics effectively quantify storm response resilience.

Adding crews improves restoration times as shown by historical data.

Framework supports strategic planning for utility resilience enhancement.

Abstract

The electric distribution system is a cornerstone of modern life, playing a critical role in the daily activities and well-being of individuals. As the world transitions toward a decarbonized future, where even mobility relies on electricity, ensuring the resilience of the grid becomes paramount. This paper introduces novel resilience metrics designed to equip utilities and stakeholders with actionable tools to assess performance during storm events. The metrics focus on emergency storm response and the resources required to improve customer service. The practical calculation of the metrics from historical utility data is demonstrated for multiple storm events. Additionally, the metrics' improvement with added crews is estimated by "rerunning history" with faster restoration. By applying this resilience framework, utilities can enhance their restoration strategies and unlock potential cost savings, benefiting both providers and customers in an era of heightened energy dependency.