The practical implementation of an 11 kV rural distribution automation pilot scheme

The Yorkshire Electricity Group plc distributes electricity throughout Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, an area of approximately 10700 square kilometres with a population of 4.4 million. The Company employs some 4700 staff serving 2 million customers through a distribution system comprising 15000 kilometres of overhead line with 2500 units of secondary overhead line switchgear, and 37900 kilometres of underground cable with more than 30000 secondary substations connected to its distribution system. In its drive to improve customer service Yorkshire Electricity is considering strategies to improve availability of supply. One initiative is an investigation into the technology and benefits of implementing remote control and automation of the 11 kV distribution system. This paper discusses a rural automation pilot scheme and considers the operational management of the distribution system, the types of remotely operable switchgear available, the automation system architecture, the approach to system control and the benefit analysis