Energy management systems

This article examines some of the factors, trends, and requirements that will have the biggest impact on development of energy management systems in the next decade that are more reliable, secure and flexible, and capable of meeting the anticipated new requirements of pending legislation, deregulation, and open access. As the central nervous system of the power network, the control center - along with its energy management system (EMS) - is a critical component of the power system operational reliability picture. There is some ground to be gained by simply getting the EMS technology that is currently in use within the utility industry fully functional again to release the true potential value of the investment. EMSs should converge accurately and reliably under extreme voltage conditions, run fast enough to be useful in the time available, and be able to recommend remedial actions. Another key factor that is critical to the success of the EMS technology of tomorrow is the incorporation of advanced network analysis algorithms and applications. This presents not only a challenge, but also an opportunity to invest in new technology that will enable us to more effectively manage both the supply and demand side of the energy equation and is an equally important component to any long-term energy policy.