August 16, 2002—Viewing a computer image similar to a weather map, transmission system operators are now able to see congestion on the high voltage power lines that make up our nation’s massive regional electricity grids.
The multi-dimensional representation of power market activities is made possible by a new software tool from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) called the Community Activity Room or CAR. CAR’s colorful graphic shows the current state of wholesale power transactions and their effect on the reliability of an interconnected power grid.
With CAR, the walls and boundaries for wholesale power transactions are mathematically defined, and the status of the wholesale power market is represented by an illuminated point or “floating light bulb” inside of the room. Operators can monitor wholesale power market activities and direct the light bulb to move away from the walls or get back inside if forced outages of transmission lines cause the walls to suddenly move inward, leaving the light bulb outside the room’s boundaries. When congestion causes the light bulb to move outside the walls, CAR provides directions for getting the system under control.
For more information, contact EPRI.
