Resources > Utility > Dispatch
 
Smart Grid Minimize

Utility dispatch is greatly enhanced with the integration of smart grid applications. The ability to gather real time data from intelligent electronic devices (IEDs), along with an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), is crucial for today’s utility dispatch center. The data can then be analyzed, processed and interpreted automatically by an outage management system (OMS), and presented to dispatchers or managers in a fast and efficient manner. This enables enhanced customer service, faster response times, less downtime and, ultimately, revenue savings and increased reliability.

Customer Service
Good customer service is always an asset to any organization especially in today’s market where consumers are demanding accountability and transparency. Smart Grid provides added tools for customer service, such as the ability to keep customers informed in real time of issues affecting their service. This could be outage information or energy consumption, historical or real time. Being able to keep the consumer informed in real time creates trust and gives the consumer confidence that their utility is striving to meet their needs.

System Monitoring
Utility system monitoring is accomplished with smart grid applications of various combinations of down line automation devices, smart meters, communication schemes and supervisory control and data acquisition systems (SCADA). Having the ability to monitor real time data such as system voltage and demand, as well as power quality, enables the utility to be proactive in meeting the needs of the system. Alarms can be set to contact key personnel by e-mail or SMS messaging when limits are reached. Greater reliability can be achieved by controlling the system remotely or by dispatching the appropriate crew to perform the necessary maintenance.

Crew Dispatch
Smart grid applications have enabled dispatchers to dispatch crews in an efficient and organized manner. The data coming into the OMS predicts where the problem is located on the system. This can be verified in real time with an AMI system, and crews can be dispatched to the location. The crews in the field can also receive notification of the problems via mobile computing or smart phone alerts. Faster response times and increased reliability are achieved.

Automatic Vehicle Locator
Automatic vehicle locator (AVL) as a part of a utilitiy's smart grid can reduce dispatch and driving time, as well as serve as an asset management tool. Human resources are a utility's greatest asset. With AVL, dispatchers can locate the resource closest to the problem. Safety is always a top priority of any organization and with AVL, the dispatchers are aware of the crews' locations at all times, which greatly enhances the safety of crew dispatch.
Advanced Metering Infrastructure | Meter Data Management | MySource Energy Display | MySource Operations | Dispatch | Mapping | Down-line Automation | Communication Network
[   Privacy Statement   ]     [   Terms of Use   ] [  Login  ]    [    ]    [   © 2011 SES is a joint partnership between CREC, OSU, City of Stillwater and C.H. Guernsey.   ]
Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional      Valid CSS!