A practical application of the Delphi method in maintenance-targeted resource allocation of distribution utilities

Trying to find the most efficient and cost-effective decisions on the maintenance of different component types in power distribution systems is an increasingly challenging concern largely driven by the current financial constraints in distribution utilities worldwide. In regard to deal with this challenge, the paper presents a practical application of the Delphi method and the Modified Analytical Hierarchical Process (MAHP) that can be used to find the most critical component types of the system in order to assist in accordingly allocating the available maintenance budget. The proposed approach involves the experience and knowledge held by experts and the historical empirical performance data in the utility data management systems to create the associated decisions. The approach has been applied in the Alborz Distribution System in Tehran, Iran. The results obtained and the lessons learned are reported in detail.