Assessment of electric service reliability worth

Abstract This paper examines the range of methods used to evaluate worth of reliability and costs of unreliability (outage costs) as reported in the literature, and contrasts the strengths and weakness of various methods. Three broad categories can be identified, namely, analytical methods, case studies, and customer surveys. The customer postal survey method is identified as the preferred method. The Power Systems Research Group of the University of Saskatchewan has conducted consumer surveys in the residential, industrial, commercial and agricultural sectors during the last decade. Major features of the methodology which has evolved are outlined. Typical data analysis procedures and characteristics of results are presented.