Power-System Reliability

Where this fits

How adequacy, operating reliability, maintenance and recovery combine to keep electricity available.

Core system ideas

Reliability includes having enough resources and network capability to meet demand as well as operating the system securely through disturbances.

Planned outages, equipment failures, extreme weather and changing demand all affect risk.

Reliability is a system property; high reliability of one component cannot compensate for every network constraint.

Interfaces and tradeoffs

Reliability involves both routine adequacy and the ability to remain within acceptable conditions after disturbances. Fast controls, reserves, protection, asset condition and trained operators contribute at different timescales.

What organizations measure

Availability, interruption frequency/duration, reserve, contingency performance and restoration.