Keeping an eye on power system dynamics

An interconnected system is one of the largest and most complex of human achievements. Faults occur on power systems, most often through natural phenomena. The massive breakup experienced by the Western North American Power System on August 10, 1996, has focused national attention on the problem of power system dynamic security. An interim solution is to rely on continuous monitoring of the system dynamics. This can be viewed as a form of measurement-based dynamic security analysis. In the Western Power System, the technology and infrastructure that this requires are developed. Tools developed are user friendly and allow ease of use under the stressed conditions of online operation. It also includes communication links for information dissemination.