“Smart Grid” State-of-the-Art:Phasors, Meters, DR, ISO, Markets

David Culler, Randy H. Katz, Seth SandersUniversity of California, Berkeley

LoCal 0th Retreat

“Energy permits things to exist; information, to behave purposefully.” W. Ware, 1997

California Power Deregulation Prior to the deregulation

Utilities were vertically integrated companies that were completely responsible for generation, transmission and distribution of power

Utilities were granted government sanctioned monopolies, but were forced to operate under strict price ceiling.

Government agencies ensured that sufficient power was generated and distributed in a safe and organized manner.

Energy Policy Act of 1992 The initial foundation for the eventual deregulation of the North American

electricity market. This Act called for utility companies to allow external entities fair access to the

electric transmission systems in North America. The Act's intent was to allow large customers to choose their electricity supplier

and subsequently pay for the transmission to deliver it from the generation to serve their load.

Following the deregulation Independent firms bought and operated the large utilities’ power plants. The state of California operated both the state-wide power grid and the

California Power Exchange on which electricity was freely bought and sold. A collection of Municipal providers, along with the original three utilities,

managed the sale and distribution of power to individual customers.

Markets/Deregulation

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Independent System Operator

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CAISO Operation• The intermediaries between

the ISO and retailers.• Submit energy schedules to

the ISO with the specifics of their plan to generate, transmit and consume electricity.

• Provide competitive spot market for energy and determine market clearing price based on a least-cost balanced schedule • Procure adequate ancillary services on a least cost basis • Act as Scheduling coordinator for PX Participants • Perform settlements process for the market

Macroscale Monitoring:Grid Quality

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Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs)

Capable of reporting data up to30 Hz

Reports magnitude, phase, andfrequency of V, I, power waveforms

Can be integrated with SCADARequires 5 - 64 kbps per PMUBenefits:

Can estimate dynamic behaviorCan operate close to stability limits -> better use of existing infrastructureCan help improve dynamic modelsAfter an outage, recloses breakers w/o damage from large phase differences

Microscale Monitoring:Smart Meters

• Plug load monitoring• Home area networks• Web-capable data collection and

control systems 5

Demand Response

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New thermostat shows price of electricity in ¢/kWhr + expected monthly bill.

New meter conveys real-timeusage, back to service provider.

Wireless beacons allow for fine-tuned comfort/control.

Incoming price signals

Appliance lights show price level & appliances powered-down

Implications for LoCal

• Monitor, Model, and Manage in complex multi-entity environment

• Grid-level simulations incorporating market and demand response elements– Communications challenge: sensor collection,

price communication, multi-level policy implementation

– Integration of renewables– Implications for power quality, reliability

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