Assessing the service rendered by a power distribution control center

This paper presents a methodology based on queuing theory for assessing the service rendered by the control center of a power utility. Stochastic point process modeling is used for representing the sequence of events to be solved by the control center and the control center operator service times. The control center service indexes are computed by means of a procedure of sequential Monte Carlo simulation. This methodology was applied to the control center of Electricaribe, a large power distribution utility in Colombia. Results show that: i. In almost all the zones served by the studied control center, the input and service processes are not stationary; thus, a methodology like the proposed one, that can manage stationary and non-stationary processes, is a necessity. ii. The power law stochastic point process model is recommended as the first choice for representing the input and service processes because it fits even in those cases of samples with low tendency for which renewal process models could not be fitted. iii. The traffic intensity parameter is very helpful because it shows the pattern of utilization of the control center resources and when they will be totally occupied.