Smart Grid (SG) is a rather new concept that includes aspects of energy generation, transmission and distribution and aims for a more reliable service, higher efficiency, more security, two-way utility-user communications, and promotion of green energy, among other goals. When the term 'Smart Grid' was first used, some people associated it with remote metering, which was later called AMR (automatic meter reading). The activities of AMR were encompassed within those of a broader field that was eventually called AMI (advanced metering infrastructure). Clearly, the metering system is one of the major elements of the Smart Grid, but certainly is not the only one. Many elements are included in the overall field of Smart Grids. Those pertaining to distribution systems and in particular to the automation of distribution systems (or distribution automation) will be considered in this book.

Chapter Contents:

• 1.1 Smart Grid for distribution systems
• 1.2 Definitions of Smart Grid
• 1.3 Benefits of the Smart Grid on distribution systems
• 1.3.1 Enhancing reliability
• 1.3.2 Improving system efficiency
• 1.3.3 Distributed energy resources
• 1.3.4 Optimizing asset utilization and efficient operation
• 1.4 Quality indices
• 1.4.1 System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI)
• 1.4.2 System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI)
• 1.4.3 Customer Average Interruption Duration Index (CAIDI)
• 1.4.4 Momentary Average Interruption Frequency Index (MAIFI) and Momentary Average Interruption Event Frequency Index (MAIFIE )
• Proposed exercise

Inspec keywords: automatic meter reading; power distribution; smart power grids

Other keywords: AMR; energy generation; green energy; automatic meter reading; remote metering; AMI; two-way utility-user communications; energy transmission; distribution systems automation; smart grid overview; security; advanced metering infrastructure; energy distribution

Subjects: Distribution networks; Power system measurement and metering