Digital grid drives customer benefits
The 2012 merger of Duke Energy and Progress Energy brought together two industry leaders in power grid modernization. Now, as one company, we are deploying distribution management systems (DMS) that are transforming the way we deliver energy — and delivering real benefits to our customers.
In the past, the power grid has relied on operator-controlled systems, kind of like the cars of the past. The car’s dashboard gave you feedback on what was happening — how fast you were going, what gear you were using and how many miles you had driven. It might have alerted you if your oil level was low. But if you went into a skid, it was all up to you to control your vehicle and avoid an accident.
In today’s cars, computerized safety systems, such as antilock brakes and electronic stability control, help you respond to such a situation. In an instant, the computer system analyzes what’s happening and helps stabilize the vehicle.
In a similar way, a DMS uses system data to instantly analyze and react to what’s happening on the power grid, and makes real-time adjustments to better control the flow of electricity.
For customers, that means:
Lower cost. DMS can quickly respond to power quality issues, such as a drop in voltage along a power line. And during periods of high demand for electricity, the system can make thousands of micro-adjustments to balance distribution.
With a more efficient delivery system, we can save on the fuel needed to produce power and even reduce the need to build new plants — costs that would otherwise be passed on to customers.
Greater reliability. DMS can detect outages and restore service quickly — often in seconds. For equipment hiccups requiring hands-on repairs, it can alert crews to the precise place and problem. And it can manage a virtually unlimited number and combination of grid challenges simultaneously.
Cleaner energy. A smarter, more responsive digital grid is better able to accommodate the intermittent nature of renewable energy, like solar and wind power.
Like the evolution of the automobile, power grid modernization is a process that will never be finished. The “smart grid” keeps getting smarter, as new technologies become available to make it more efficient and reliable.