Under-Frequency Load Shedding: Towards a smarter smart house with a consumer level controller

Under-Frequency Load Shedding (UFLS) can increase power system reliability by preventing total system collapse during emergency operating situations when load exceeds generation. UFLS is required by The North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) for large consumers and has been implemented by utilities across the country. When the frequency drops to some predefined set points, feeder breakers are opened to shed loads in favor of maintaining generation/load balance. With increasing pressure to improve system reliability through more sophisticated controls and SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) equipments, electric utilities are encouraged to apply more localized frequency sensing and load shedding schemes on the distribution system. This research work aims at studying the effects of voluntary load shedding for different load shedding scenarios using the simulation package PSS/E. In addition, a consumer- based load shedding controller is proposed, designed and developed.