A Global Optimization Method for Scheduling Thermal Generation, Hydro Generation, and Economy Purchases

A key operating question facing the control staff at South Carolina Electric and Gas Company (SCE&G) is: "How should thermal generation be coordinated with pumped-storage operation and economy purchases to minimize the total system production costs?" To answer this complex question, SCE&G dispatchers are currently using a unit commitment program which can perform global optimization. The purpose of this paper is to describe the global optimization method, report computational experiences, and present a case study to illustrate practical applications.