A survey seeking a definition of a smart distribution system

Recently, the U.S. Government has mandated the transformation of the existing electric grid into a “smart” grid through the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA07) and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. To create a “smart” grid, intelligence must be incorporated at all levels of the electric power grid, especially at the distribution level. Using Title XIII of the EISA07 as a guide, a survey to define a “smart distribution system” was designed to study the implications of the smart grid initiative on distribution engineering. The objectives of this survey are threefold: 1) to provide a definition of a smart distribution system from the perspective of the industry, 2) to identify existing tools from transmission engineering that can be applied at the distribution level, and 3) to guide investigation into the technical requirements and implications of a smart distribution system. The motivation and methods used in the design of this survey, which has been circulated among potential respondents in academia and the U.S. industry, are presented in this paper. This paper also includes a contemporary list of references on the topic of a smart grid.