Distributed resource electric power systems offer significant advantages over central station generation and T&D power systems. I

Parts I and II of these papers, for the first time, describe the attributes of both the: (1) existing central station generation and T & D power systems; and (2) distributed resource (DR) power systems; and summarizes the results of a comparison of ten different performance characteristics for each system. The performance characteristics for the central station and T & D; and DR power systems included: (1) efficiency and losses; (2) investment, fuel, and 0 & M costs; (3) reliability and power quality; (4) emissions; (5) infrastructure requirements; (6) electrical environmental effects; (7) installation time; (8) electrical safety; (9) CCHP opportunities; and (10) financial risk and security risk. This performance matrix analysis clearly shows the significant advantages of DR power systems such as microgrids, and self generation. Part I summarizes the results of the performance characteristics of: (1) efficiency and losses; and Part II includes (2) through (10).