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Interconnection of generation to an electric distribution system, which is primarily designed to serve radial loads, must not compromise reliability and quality of supply to customers or safety of public and equipment. This paper presents criteria used by BC Hydro, the third largest utility in Canada, to determine the requirements for interconnecting a generating source to its distribution system. The presented criteria discuss tradeoff involved in specifying the grounding connection of interconnecting transformer or how the size of a distributed generator impacts protection upgrades within the utility system, out-of-step tripping duty on the feeder breaker, and requirement of transfer trip to avoid temporary overvoltages. These criteria are applied consistently and uniformly to minimize cost of interconnection engineering. They are based on sound engineering principles to ensure that interconnection upgrades specified are justifiable and defensible, if necessary, to the utility's regulator to ensure open access of the grid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an integrated simulation—optimization approach is proposed for annual planning of power restoration workforce related to an electricity distribution company in a province of Canada. Internal and external workforces are employed to perform maintenance actions and restore power after interruptions throughout the province. According to the electricity distribution network, the province is divided into a number of work locations (WL), each having local crews to perform maintenance actions and fix power interruptions. However, determining the size of the crew in each WL over the year is challenging because of high fluctuation in interruption frequency and consequently in projected demand during the year. The frequency of interruptions is affected by various factors such as geographical location, time calendar, and particularly weather conditions. The objective is to determine the optimal combination of internal and external workforce over the year to cover the interruptions across the province with minimum cost and minimum customer interruption duration. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Government, utility, and private subsidies for energy efficiency play a prominent role in current efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, yet the effectiveness of this policy approach is in dispute. One opportunity for empirical analysis is provided by the past energy efficiency subsidies, called demand-side management programs, offered by electric utilities in North America over several decades. Between 1990 and 2005, most electric utilities in Canada administered such programs, with total spending of $2.9 billion (CDN$2005). This paper uses the significant inter-annual variation in demand side management spending during this period to econometrically estimate the effectiveness of these subsidies. The resulting estimates indicate that these programs have not had a substantial impact on overall electricity consumption in Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a deterministic, discrete-time, finite-horizon oligopoly model to investigate investment and production equilibrium strategies, in a setting where demand evolves over time and the two market-segment loads (peak- and base-load) are interdependent. The players (generators) compete à la Cournot, open-loop Nash equilibria are computed and numerical results are discussed. The model is calibrated with data from Ontario, Canada. We assess the impact on equilibrium strategies of a generation sector with more market power than what is actually the case. We also find a slight difference in the investment sequence when interdependent demand segments are considered. Finally, we analyze the impact of increasing demand elasticities over time, and varying the financial values of the production capacities that remain at the end of the planning horizon. We believe that such a tool is valuable for professionals and scholars interested in the dynamics of production capacity mix (portfolio of technologies) in the electricity sector. It is also of paramount importance for public decision makers who have to simultaneously deal with environmental issues and with price control, both of which are politically sensitive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is shown that the hourly ambient temperature and load of a substation transformer in Manitoba, observed over the three-month winter or summer time window, are governed by the normal distribution, respectively, and they jointly follow the bivariate normal distribution. Based on this, a rigorous model for the peak-load ambient temperature (i.e., the ambient temperature at the time when the winter or summer peak-load of the transformer occurs) is developed. This makes it possible to accurately determine the peak load capability of the transformer if its historical hourly ambient temperature and load data are available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provides information on a study which presented a probabilistic Monte Carlo simulation model for determining generation equivalence to a transmission facility for use in transmission system planning studies in the electric power industry. Information on the supply network of the Alberta Power System; Local area reliability assessment methodology; Input data and assumptions used to assess the reliability improvements; Results and conclusions.

Presents information on a study which analyzed the costs of electricity distribution using data from municipal electric utilities in Ontario, Canada. Single-equation analysis; Panel data analysis; Differencing estimation of variance components; Conclusion.