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This paper generalizes Benders decomposition to maximize a nonconcave objective function and uses that decomposition to solve an "electric power grid interdiction problem." Under one empirically verified assumption, the solution to this bilevel optimization problem identifies a set of components, limited by cardinality or "interdiction resource," whose destruction maximizes economic losses to customers (and can thereby guide defensive measures). The decomposition subproblem typically incorporates a set of dc optimal power-flow models that cover various states of repair after an attack, along with a load-duration curve. Test problems describe a regional power grid in the United States with approximately 5000 buses, 6000 lines, and 500 generators. Solution time on a 2-GHz personal computer is approximately one hour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report is based on a survey of power engineering education resources in the U.S. and Canada similar to 12 earlier such efforts. This survey is conducted to determine the electric power engineering education resources available in Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredited engineering programs in the U.S. and Canada for the 2001-02 academic year. The report is limited to colleges and universities that replied to a questionnaire on a voluntary basis. For the 115 colleges and universities (107 U.S., S Canadian) that submitted data on their power programs, the report contains a list of faculty active during the 2001-02 academic year with academic participation and professional experience, each school's research area and funding levels, Ph.D. and MS student enrollment by type of support and by domestic versus international, and each school's power course offerings with enrollments and other data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]