Integration and other developments in distribution protection: An Eskom perspective

Electrical utilities are experiencing cost constraints due to various circumstantial pressures including privatisation, business re-alignment, electrification development, etc. Even though constraints of this nature apply largely to the business related practices of electric utilities, it must also translate into improved power system engineering approaches. In this regard, the main technological change-driver in the power system engineering disciplines is “information”, where the availability/suitability of relevant information aids critical decision making. This is especially relevant to the distribution engineering side of an electric utility´s business due to the proliferation of power network configurations and types, as well as the diversity in customers. In this regard, it is considered that modular integration and configuration standardisation in power system protection and control equipment results in cost benefits (production, commissioning and maintenance) to the equipment supplier, agent and end-user. This paper evaluates such approaches to power network protection system integration and distribution automation