Networks for tomorrow. Urban and city centre underground distribution for the 21st Century

The challenge for electricity utilities in the 21st Century is to deliver ever more reliable service at reduced cost and with fewer technical and support staff. This creates the driver towards the next generation of distribution networks and management systems. Real-time information and controls integrated with automated network management systems, are required to enable limited investment to be directed at those networks with the poorest performance and highest operational costs. Here, the author describes how London Electricity (UK) has developed an integrated technology strategy for underground distribution development with an underlying methodology which can be adopted for use in other utilities