Multiagent organizations for real-time operations

The real-time operations of electric power networks are subject to two sets of forces. The first, including deregulation movements and growing environmental concerns, is acting to increase the complexity of operations. The second, including new computer technologies and emerging knowledge-based agents, provides some means for handling additional complexity. The authors argue that organizational changes will have to be made before the second set of forces can be applied to effectively counter the first. To make this argument, a framework for discussing organizational structures is presented. Then the structures of the two generations of computer-based, multiagent systems that have been developed for operations are reviewed. It is pointed out that these structures are well-suited to the algorithmic tasks involved in operations but not to the knowledge-based tasks. The authors conclude with some suggestions for research into alternative structures