The design and implementation of Ontario Hydro´s new energy management system

The responsibility for the integrated operation of Ontario Hydro´s Bulk Electric System (BES) rests with the System Control Centre (SCC). In 1985, because of concerns relating to equipment obsolescence, space restrictions and site security, Ontario Hydro decided to build a new SCC located in Clarkson some 30 km west of Toronto. It became operational on schedule in December 1990. The author provides an overview of the high level user requirements for the new SCC, focusing on the data acquisition and computer system and the resulting impact that the user requirements had on the computer architecture for this energy management system. The author also provides a brief outline of the commissioning processes and operational experience during the first two months of operation