A pragmatic approach to the identification of supply quality requirements and the identification of network performance improvement

Those involved with network performance and in the improvement process have to identify the meaning of what is meant by ´quality´. Different types of customer, often supplied by the same physical network have differing expectations and requirements. `Quality´ can be used to embrace all aspects of supply physics. Firstly, we need to agree which aspect of quality is to be addressed and to what level improvement is appropriate and justified. Secondly, having identified the factors that need improving and the level to which improvement is appropriate, an improvement strategy where there is no fundamental design weakness will largely depend on as found condition of the particular circuit in question. In essence the methods which are necessary to deliver the improvement may differ depending on the cause of the deficiency even on a circuit by circuit basis. It is likely that the average distribution network has a wide range of conditions and configurations depending on its history. This will need a tailored solution to network improvement. An improvement strategy of a pragmatic nature based on a thorough understanding of particular requirements and deficiencies, on a circuit by circuit basis, is likely to provide the most effective solution. This paper describes how one such pragmatic approach might be made