International performance definitions for electric generating units: IEEE and UNIPEDE working together

Two international groups, IEEE and the International Union of Producers and Distributors of Electric Energy (UNIPEDE), have each developed definitions and terminology for electric utilities to use to facilitate information exchanges. Although developed independently, the two sets offer similar definitions and calculation methods that yield comparable results for power station unit performance evaluation. The authors review both bodies of work and highlight similarities and differences. The major difference between UNIPEDE and IEEE is their perspectives: IEEE´s is time-based and UNIPEDE´s is energy-based. However, both have developed hierarchal structures to classify unit availability, and both are deficient in that neither defines measures of performance specifically for nonbaseload generating units. IEEE is working to correct this deficiency. Coordination between UNIPEDE and IEEE is discussed as is the North American Electric Reliability Council´s (NERC) effort to ensure that IEEE Standard 762 and UNIPEDE´s related work remain compatible.<>