Through the project, Georgia Power has been able to create 73 self-healing networks made up of 174 feeders. Self-healing networks that can automatically isolate problems and restore power to unaffected areas have helped decrease service disruptions.
Overall, the improvements have had a direct impact on customer reliability including faster recognition of outages and outage locations, improved restoration times when service is interrupted, increased efficiency of the grid and optimized grid operations.
Additionally, two key reliability measures, System Average Interruption Frequency Index SAIFI and System Average Interruption Duration Index SAIDI, have improved approximately 35.7 percent and 37 percent, respectively, for upgraded circuits through September 2013.
"These enhancements to our grid and processes are allowing us to work smarter across our system and better serve all of our customers throughout the state," said Leslie Sibert, vice president of distribution for Georgia Power. "Although our customers are already seeing a positive impact on reliability and service, this project will continue to provide economic and environmental benefits for the growing state of Georgia for years to come."
The project has helped Georgia Power defer the need for an additional 200 megawatts of generation and avoid 61,000 truck trips for service calls, totaling more than 635,000 saved miles, through September 2013. In addition, carbon dioxide emissions have been reduced by more than 4,000 tons, including generation reduction, and nearly $3.5 million in costs for the company have been avoided.