Smart Grid Investments Improve Grid Reliability, Resilience, and Storm Response
Oct. 31, 2014
U.S. Department of Energy Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability
This report presents findings on smart grid improvements in outage management from three Smart Grid Investment Grant (SGIG) projects using distribution automation technologies and systems. Smart grid outage management approaches accelerated service restoration and limited the number of affected customers during major recent storms. Utilities required fewer truck rolls during restoration and used repair crews more efficiently, which reduced utility restoration costs and total outage time. Business and residential customers experienced fewer financial losses, as shorter outage time limited lost productivity, public health and safety hazards, food spoilage, and inconvenience from schedule disruptions.
