Lightning information for use in power systems analysis: how much more do we need to know?

Lightning-related behaviors of electric power systems can now be explained by a variety of concepts and models. Over the last 25 years, real-time lightning detection systems have contributed to our ability to use this knowledge in a number of practical ways. Although many applications of lightning information do not require detailed models or parameters measurement, a number of quantitative applications related to "cause and effect" do. In these cases, there is a mismatch between the number and specificity of the parameters of the models, and our ability to measure these parameters using today\´s practical lightning detection systems. This paper briefly discusses the lightning parameters that affect power system performance, and what real-time information we are able to obtain with today\´s lightning detection technologies. The paper concludes with some thoughts about what could be the next steps in improving the information provided by real-time lightning detection systems, if such improvements are really needed.