DEW/ISM provides proven analytical tools to solve electric utilities’ largest distribution problems. All commonly offered analytical tools are included, plus the opportunity to work with our expert engineers to develop custom applications to solve problems specific to your company. The Integrated Systems Model
EDD’s Integrated Systems Model (ISM) allows engineers to use the same model to support all engineering, operating and control functions. The model can include transmission, substation and distribution components, customer loads, system measurements and the capability to analyze in real time.
This technology simplifies model management by providing solutions for everyone, from engineers and operators to storm personnel and asset managers. Customers can merge any number of systems, run any number of applications, and analyze any number of models for comparison. The models generated are easily displayed and manipulated over land-based models, such as Google Earth and GIS.
Our models can also be used to analyze very large sets of data, which prior methods have not handled effectively. DEW/ISM uses iterator-based algorithms, which can solve more complex problems faster than matrix-based approaches. For example, many utilities are missing the opportunity to leverage the increasing amount of data that is produced by smart grid devices like Automated Meter Infrastructure, Distribution SCADA, DER output and PMU devices.
These technologies are generating terabyte-sized data sets, which utilities are struggling (or failing) to analyze. The standard practice is to deploy different models to organize data and solve certain problems. With DEW/ISM these data sets can all be associated with an integrated model, simplifying analyses and enabling utilities to transform the measurements into valuable information.
EDD’s DEW solution also pairs with NISC’s Operations Analytics (OA) to allow users to look beyond peak system analysis to better grasp real system performance. Users can review large quantities of data collected over long periods of time and identify trends and patterns in usage to make better planning and operational decisions. To learn more about how DEW and OA work together on time-series data, please visit www.nisc.coop/operations-analytics.
A Model-Centric Approach
For the past 100 years, utilities have been operating their electrical distribution systems more reactively than proactively. With the emergence of distributed solar energy, demand response programs and focus on energy efficiency, aided by federal and state regulations, utilities are now being pressured to proactively manage the distribution system.
To manage an active distribution system, utilities require new models with greater complexity and detail than what they currently have. With EDD’s Integrated System Model, utility engineers can incorporate any active technology into the DEW/ISM software model and run accurate simulations of the entire system.
To implement the model-centric approach, DEW/ISM creates a paradigm shift by allowing clients to use a single model for multiple functions, from topology management to planning to operations to control. Instead of pushing data to isolated algorithms, interactive analysis modules pull data, analyze and share results. Since the integrated model allows a common model for design, planning, operation and control, more time can be dedicated to analyzing alternative scenarios and less time gathering data and generating standalone solutions.
This eliminates throw away studies, fragmented solutions and duplications of effort. Since the ISM algorithms are interactively sharing data, a truly collaborative environment is created. Results are easily shared across the entire enterprise, improving organizational efficiencies and optimizing real-time responses.