Recent trends in power system reliability and implications for evaluating future investments in resiliency
Abstract
Here, this study examines the relationship between annual changes in electricity reliability reported by a large cross-section of U.S. electricity distribution utilities over a period of 13 years and a broad set of potential explanatory variables, including weather and utility characteristics. We find statistically significant correlations between the average number of power interruptions experienced annually and above average wind speeds, precipitation, lightning strikes, and a measure of population density: customers per line mile. We also find significant relationships between the average number of minutes of power interruptions experienced and above average wind speeds, precipitation, cooling degree-days, and one strategy used to mitigate the impacts of severe weather: the amount of underground transmission and distribution line miles. Perhaps most importantly, we find a significant time trend of increasing annual average number of minutes of power interruptions over time—especially when interruptions associated with extreme weather are included. Lastly, the research method described in this analysis can provide a basis for future efforts to project long-term trends in reliability and the associated benefits of strategies to improve grid resiliency to severe weather—both in the U.S. and abroad.
- Authors:
-
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Stanford Univ., CA (United States)
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Stanford Univ., CA (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Electricity (OE)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1437952
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1397008
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC02-05CH11231
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Energy (Oxford)
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Name: Energy (Oxford); Journal Volume: 117; Journal Issue: P1; Related Information: © 2016 Elsevier Ltd; Journal ID: ISSN 0360-5442
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY; 24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION; Electricity reliability; Power interruptions; Severe weather; Major event; Reliability metrics
Citation Formats
Larsen, Peter H., LaCommare, Kristina H., Eto, Joseph H., and Sweeney, James L. Recent trends in power system reliability and implications for evaluating future investments in resiliency. United States: N. p., 2016.
Web. doi:10.1016/j.energy.2016.10.063.
Larsen, Peter H., LaCommare, Kristina H., Eto, Joseph H., & Sweeney, James L. Recent trends in power system reliability and implications for evaluating future investments in resiliency. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2016.10.063
Larsen, Peter H., LaCommare, Kristina H., Eto, Joseph H., and Sweeney, James L. Thu .
"Recent trends in power system reliability and implications for evaluating future investments in resiliency". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2016.10.063. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1437952.
@article{osti_1437952,
title = {Recent trends in power system reliability and implications for evaluating future investments in resiliency},
author = {Larsen, Peter H. and LaCommare, Kristina H. and Eto, Joseph H. and Sweeney, James L.},
abstractNote = {Here, this study examines the relationship between annual changes in electricity reliability reported by a large cross-section of U.S. electricity distribution utilities over a period of 13 years and a broad set of potential explanatory variables, including weather and utility characteristics. We find statistically significant correlations between the average number of power interruptions experienced annually and above average wind speeds, precipitation, lightning strikes, and a measure of population density: customers per line mile. We also find significant relationships between the average number of minutes of power interruptions experienced and above average wind speeds, precipitation, cooling degree-days, and one strategy used to mitigate the impacts of severe weather: the amount of underground transmission and distribution line miles. Perhaps most importantly, we find a significant time trend of increasing annual average number of minutes of power interruptions over time—especially when interruptions associated with extreme weather are included. Lastly, the research method described in this analysis can provide a basis for future efforts to project long-term trends in reliability and the associated benefits of strategies to improve grid resiliency to severe weather—both in the U.S. and abroad.},
doi = {10.1016/j.energy.2016.10.063},
journal = {Energy (Oxford)},
number = P1,
volume = 117,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Oct 27 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Thu Oct 27 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}
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