Integrating Load Management into Energy Management System's Normal Operations -- Primary Factors

This paper delineates the major considerations in integrating load management into the normal operations of power system control centers' energy management systems (EMS). It shows how the system operators would like to utilize load management in conjunction with the day-to-day scheduling and dispatch of generation and interchange resources in an electric utility company. The paper presents the results of a survey of utility companies and system vendors on the state-of-the-art for integrating load management into the EMS. The survey was sponsored under an EPRI Project (RP2202-1). Then the paper sets forth the primary factors that would affect the integration of load management into EMS' normal operations. These primary factors become the cornerstone for the formulation that entails the integration of load management. These results provide insights into what to consider if utility engineers and operators desire to integrate load management into the EMS. In another upcoming paper, the authors will present the mathematical formulation for this load management integration problem. The paper will also describe the prototype software entitled Load Management Decision-Support System (LMDSS) that interfaces with the application programs of EMS in a host utility company. Results of case studies for this host utility company will also be presented to illustrate how practical the LMDSS is in integrating load management into the EMS functions and operational planning.