7th International R & D Conference Development and Management of Water and

Energy Resources 4-6 February 2009, Bhubaneswar (Orissa), India

EVALUATION OF DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

RELIABILITY INDICES OF NASIK AREA

P.M. SONWANE AND B. E. KUSHARE

K.K. Wagh Institute of Engineering Education & Research, Nashik

SYNOPSIS: Reliability is a key aspect of power system design and planning.

In this research we present a reliability analysis algorithm for large scale,
radially operated (with respect to substation), reconfigurable, electrical
distribution systems. The algorithm takes into account equipment power
handling constraints and converges in a matter of seconds on systems
containing thousands of components. Linked lists of segments are employed in
obtaining the rapid convergence. A power flow calculation is used to check the
power handling constraints. The application of distributed generators for
electrical distribution systems is a new technology. The placement of
distributed generation and its effects on reliability is investigated. Previous
reliability calculations have been performed for static load models and
inherently make the assumption that system reliability is independent of load.
The study presented here evaluates reliability indices using VB based software.
Distribution system in Nashik Urban area including MIDC Satpur area has
been considered and Indices are compared with MERC reliability Indices.
1.

INTRODUCTION

This paper presents useful distribution reliability indices and factors that affect their
calculation. It includes indices that are useful in regulated and de-regulated electricity
market. The indices are intended to apply to distribution systems.
The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, it is to present a set of terms and
definitions that can be used to bring uniformity in the development of distribution service
reliability indices, to identify factors that affect the indices, and to aid in consistent reporting
practices among utilities. Secondly, it is to provide guidance for new researchers in the
reliability area and to provide tools for internal as well as external comparisons.
In the past, other have defined reliability indices for transmission, generation, and
distribution but some of the definitions already in use are not adequate for adoption to
distribution system. It is recognized that not all utilities will have the data available to
calculate all the indices. However, as systems become more sophisticated, the index
calculation will become broader and needs simple calculations.
Case study of Reliability Indices for Nashik circle is evaluated for one year for the
period September 06 to August 07. Definitions are presented here to understand the factors
that affect index calculation. Many of these definitions were taken directly from IEEE Std
100-1996. If there is a conflict between the definitions in this paper and IEEE Std 100-1996.
Others are given because they have a new interpretation within this paper and supported in
IEEE Std. 1336,2001 [12].the various definations are documented in Appendix A.

P.M. Sonwane

2. REVIEW OF RELIABILITY INDICES

The various available reliability Indices are classifies into two categories
The various Sustained interruption indices are:
SAFI, SAIDI, CAIDI, CTAID, CAIFI, ASAI, ASIFI, ASIDI, CEMIn
Momentary indices: MAIFI, CEMSMIn
The work reported in this paper focuses mainly on sustained interruption Indices.
1 SAIFI (System average interruption frequency index).
This index is designed to give information about the average frequency of sustained
interruptions per customer over a predefined area. In words, the definition is:
SAIFI =

Total number of customer interruptions

Total number of customers served

Ni

NT

2 SAIDI (System average interruption duration index)

This index is commonly referred to as customer minutes of interruption or customer hours,
and is designed to provide information about the average time the customers are interrupted.
In words, the definition is:
SAIDI =

Customer interruption durations

Total number of customers served

ri Ni
NT

3 CAIDI(Customer average interruption duration index.)

CAIDI represents the average time required to restore service to the average customer per
sustained interruption. In words, the definition is:
CAIDI =

Customer interruption durations

Total number of customer interruptions

ri Ni = SAIDI
NT SAIFI

4 CTAIDI (Customer total average interruption duration index.)

For customers who actually experienced an interruption, this index represents the total
average time in the reporting period they were without power. This index is a hybrid of
CAIDI and is calculated the same except that customers with multiple interruptions are
CTAIDI =

Customer interruption durations

Total number of customers interrupted

ri Ni (Duration)
CN

NOTEIn tallying total number of customers interrupted, each individual customer should
only be counted once regardless of the number of times interrupted during the reporting
period. This applies to CTAIDI and CAIFI.
5 CAIFI(Customer average interruption frequency index.)

Evaluation of distribution system reliability indices of Nasik area

This index gives the average frequency of sustained interruptions for those customers
experiencing sustained interruptions. The customer is counted once regardless of the number
of times interrupted for this calculation. In words, the definition is:

Total number of customer interruptions

=
Total number of customers interrupted

CAIFI =

CN

6 ASAI (Average service availability index.)

This index represents the fraction of time (often in percentage) that a customer has power
provided during one year or the defined reporting period. In words, the definition is:

Customer hours service availability

Customer hours service demand
NT ( No.ofhours / year ) ri N i

ASAI =

NT ( No.ofhours / year )

There are 8760 hours in a regular year, 8784 in a leap year.

7 ASIFI (Average system interruption frequency index.)
This index was specifically designed to calculate reliability based on load rather than number
of customers. It is an important index for areas that serve predominantly
industrial/commercial customers. It is also used by utilities that do not have elaborate
customer tracking systems. Similar to SAIFI, it gives information on the system average
frequency of interruption. In words, the definition is:
ASIFI=

Connected kVA interrupted

(Average no. of interruptions) =
Total connected kVA served

LT

8 ASIDI (Average system interruption duration index.)

This index was designed with the same philosophy as ASIFI, but it provides information on
system average duration of interruptions. In words, the definition is:
ASIDI =

Connected kVA duration interrupted

=
Total connected kVA served

rL
i

LT

9 CEMI n (Customers experiencing multiple interruptions.)

This index is designed to track the number n of sustained interruptions to a specific customer.
Its purpose is to help identify customer trouble that cannot be seen by using averages. In
words, the definition is:
CEMIn =

Total number of customers that experienced more than n sustained interruptions

Total number of customers served

P.M. Sonwane

CN k n
NT

Evaluation of distribution system reliability indices of Nasik area

3.

A CASE STUDY OF EVALUATION OF RELIABILITY INDICES AT SATPUR

132/33/11 KV SUBSTATION, NASHIK

In 132/33/11 kv Satpur substation , various feeders are connected. Out of which, 10 feeders
are taken for the observations. Interruption study on these are made for one year i.e, from
August 2006 to July 2007. A Tabulated information is provided in Table 1. SAIFI, SAIDI
and CAIDI Indices are sufficient to understood , whether the system is reliable or not and
hence VB based software is prepared to solve these indices. One of the tool for solution of
SAIDI is shown here in Fig. 1 And the result is obtained by pressing the button Calculate
SAIFI. The result available in the window form as shown in Fig. 2
This software helps to reduce the time in simulation. Software is reliable and
developed in Institute Software Laboratory by our students of Final year. Table 1 discusses
the total number of Interruptions occurred due to over current relay operated.

Fig. 1 VB based software to calculate SAIFI

Fig. 2 SAIFI calculation result window

Fig. 3 shows the month wise interruption data. It is observed that in the months of Apr.
to June most of the interruptions occurred because of huge load demand. This affects the
reliability of the system in those months. If the reliability indices are calculated month wise
then in those days reliability reduces. Month wise reliability Indices are not included in this
paper. Utility system like MSEDCL is advised to take care of generation in those days which
helps in improving the reliability.
Feeder
IND5
IND 2
CITY 3
IND 1
IND 4
IND3
CITY 1
CITY 2
CITY 4
CITY 5

Table2 Cumulative Information of One Year

Failure rate (Occ/Yr)
Outage time (Hrs/Failure)
6
1.17
0
0
0
0
25
3.07
2
0.12
4
0.20
12
1.41
21
2.02
2
0.13
46
3.28
=118
=11.4

Unavailability (Hrs/Yr)
7.02
0
0
76.75
0.24
0.80
16.92
42.42
0.26
150.88
=295.29

P.M. Sonwane

Fig. 3 Graph showing interruption month wise

4.

CONCLUSION

From the given data of Nashik 132 KV Satpur substation, Calculated Load point indices are
tabulated as follows.
System Average Interruption Failure Index (SAIFI)
=1.3470 x 10 -3 Interruption / Customer
System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI)
= 1.71 Hours / Customer
Customer Average Interruption Duration Index (CAIDI)
=3.346 Hours / Customer interruption
These Reliability Indices calculated by MSEDCL are also available on the website.
Improvements in this is required. Studying the various Literatures, of Indian Electricity
Companies in various states, it is observed that some of them are also considering the
interruption events less than 5 minutes. In this paper while evaluating Reliability Indices
such interruptions are ignored.
Researcher may have to find the future scope in finding the indices for various periods
like month wise, weekly, and yearly. Huge scope for the measurement of Online Indices is
still a dream for the scientist.
APPENDIX A: DEFINITIONS
Connected load: The connected transformer kVA, peak load, or metered demand (to be
clearly specified when reporting) on the circuit or portion of circuit that is interrupted. When
reporting, the report should state whether it is based on an annual peak or on a reporting
period peak.

Evaluation of distribution system reliability indices of Nasik area

Customer count: The number of customers or number of meters. The number of customers is
the preferred item to count if the counting system is not already in place.
Distribution system: That portion of an electric system that delivers electric energy from
transformation points on the transmission system to the customer.
Note: The distribution system is generally considered to be anything from the distribution
substation fence to the customer meter. Often the initial overcurrent protection and voltage
regulator are within the substation fence.
Duration interruption: The period (measured in seconds, or minutes, or hours, or days) from
the initiation of an interruption to a customer or other facility until service has been restored
to that customer or facility. An interruption may require step-restoration tracking to provide
reliable index calculation. It may be desirable to record the duration of each interruption.
Forced interruption: An interruption caused by a forced outage.
Interrupting device: A device capable of being reclosed whose purpose is to interrupt faults
and restore service or disconnect loads. These devices can be manual, automatic, or motoroperated. Examples may include transmission breakers, feeder breakers, line reclosers, and
motor-operated switches.
Interrupting device event: The operation associated with the interrupting device for cases
where a reclosing device operates but does not lockout and where a switch is opened only
temporarily.
Interrupting device operation: The operation associated with a reclosing device for cases
where the switch opens and closes once but does not lockout.
Interruption: The loss of service to one or more customers. Note: It is the result of one or
more component outages, depending on system configuration.
Interruptions caused by events outside of distribution: For most utilities, this type of
interruption is a small percentage of the total interruptions. It will be defined here to account
for the cases where outside influences are a major occurrence. Three categories that may be
helpful to monitor are: transmission, generation, and substations.
Lockout: The final operation of a recloser or circuit breaker in an attempt to clear a persistent
fault. The overcurrent protective device locks open their contacts under these conditions.
Loss of service: The loss of electrical power, a complete loss of voltage, to one or more
customers or meters. This does not include any of the power quality issues (sags, swells,
impulses, or harmonics).
Major event: A catastrophic event that exceeds design limits of the electric power system
and that is characterized by the following (as defined by the utility):

P.M. Sonwane

(a)

Extensive damage to the electric power system;

(b)

More than a specified percentage of customers simultaneously out of service;

(c)

Service restoration times longer than specified.

Some examples are extreme weather, such as a one in five year event, or earthquakes.
Momentary event interruption: An interruption of duration limited to the period required to
restore service by an interrupting device. Note: Such switching operations must be completed
in a specified time not to exceed 5 min. This definition includes all reclosing operations that
occur within 5 min of the first interruption. For example, if a recloser or breaker operates
two, three, or four times and then holds, the event shall be considered one momentary
interruption event.
Momentary interruption: Single operation of an interrupting device that results in a voltage
zero. For example, two breaker or recloser operations equals two momentary interruptions.
Outage (electric power systems): The state of a component when it is not available to
perform its intended function due to some event directly associated with that component.
Notes: 1. An outage may or may not cause an interruption of service to customers, depending
on system configuration. 2. This definition derives from transmission and distribution
applications and does not apply to generation outages.
Reporting period: A period assumed to be one year unless otherwise stated.
Scheduled interruption (electric power systems):A loss of electric power that results when
a component is deliberately taken out of service at a selected time, usually for the purposes
of construction, preventative maintenance, or repair. Notes: 1. This derives from transmission
and distribution applications and does not apply to generation interruptions. 2. The key test to
determine if an interruption should be classified as a forced or scheduled interruption is as
follows. If it is possible to defer the interruption when such deferment is desirable, the
interruption is a scheduled interruption; otherwise, the interruption is a forced interruption.
Deferring an interruption may be desirable, for example, to prevent overload of facilities or
interruption of service to customers.
Step restoration: The restoration of service to blocks of customers in an area until the entire
area or feeder is restored.
Sustained interruption: Any interruption not classified as a momentary event. Any
interruption longer than 5 min.

Evaluation of distribution system reliability indices of Nasik area

Total number of customers served: The total number of customers served on the last day of
the reporting period. If a different customer total is used, it must be clearly defined
within the report.
REFERENCES
1.

Koval D.O., Billinton R., Evaluation of Distribution System Reliability, IEEE Transaction on Power
Apparatus and systems, Vol.PAS-98, No.2 March /April 1979.

2.

Billinton R., Y.Kumar Transmission lines Reliability Models including common mode And Adverse Whether
effects, IEEE Transaction on Power Apparatus and systems, Vol.PAS-100, No.8 August 1981

3.

Wacker G., Wojczynski E., Billinton R., Interruption cost methodology and results- A Canadian residential
survey, IEEE Transaction on Power Apparatus and systems, Vol.PAS-102, No.10 October 1983.

4.

Billinton R., Wacker G., Wojczynski E., Comprehensive Bibliography On Electrical Service Interruption
Costs. IEEE Transaction on Power Apparatus and systems, Vol.PAS-102, No.6 June 1983.

5.

Subramaniam R.K., Billinton R., Wacker G., Factors Affecting the development of an Industrial customer
damage function, IEEE Transaction on Power Apparatus and systems, Vol.PAS-104, No.11 November 1985.

6.

Luigi Salvaderi, Billinton R., A Comparison between two fundamentally different approaches to composite
systemreliability evaluation , IEEE Transaction on Power Apparatus and systems, Vol.PAS-104, No.12,
December 1985.

7.

Billinton R., Wojczynski E., Distributional variation of distribution System Reliability Indices, IEEE
Transaction on Power Apparatus and systems, Vol.PAS-104, No.11 November 1985.

8.

Willis H.L., Vismor T.D., Powel R.W., Some Aspect of Sampling Load curve data on Distribution systems
IEEE Transaction on Power Apparatus and systems, Vol.PAS-104, No.11 November 1985.

9.

Wojczynski E., Billinton R., Effects of Distribution system Reliability Index Distributions upon Interruption
cost/Reliability worth estimates IEEE Transaction on Power Apparatus and systems, Vol.PAS-104, No.11
November 1985.

10.

Baitch A., Barr R. A.,A tapping range and voltage level analysis chart for tap changing Transformers, IEEE
Transaction on Power Apparatus and systems, Vol.PAS-104, No.11 November 1985.

P.M. Sonwane graduated in Electrical Engineering from Chandrapur Engineering College, Nagpur University. He
obtained M. Tech. in Integrated power systems From V.R.C.E. Nagpur in 2005. His area of interest is power system.
Microprocessor, Microcontroller, Artificial Intelligence and distribution system reliability. He worked in Mumbai
and Pune University and taught various subjects in last 9 Years. Currently he is working as Assi. Professor of
Electrical Engineering Department in K. K. Wagh Institute of Engg. Edu. & Research, Nashik.
B.E. Kushare graduated in Electrical Engineering from Govt. College of Engineering, Aurangabad and obtained
Gold Medal for University Toppe in 1989. He completed his ME Electrical Control System from Pune university in
1992 and obtained Ph.D. in Power Quality from Pune University in 2006. He is also a Certified Energy auditor. He
Published around 100 International and National Papers. He is also a consultant to various industries in India and
abroad.

Table 1 Number of Interruptions occurred due to overcurrent relay in Satpur 132/33/11 kv

substation during sep 2006-aug 2007
Months

Feeder

Sep-6
failu
re
occ.

tim
e

oct
fail
ure
oc
c.

nov

time

failu
re
occ.

dec
tim
e

fail
ure
occ.

jan

time

IND 1

feb

march

april

may

june

july

Aug.-7

failure
occ.

time

failu
re
occ.

time

failu
re
occ.

time

fail
ure
occ.

tim
e

failur
e
occ.

ti
me

fail
ure
occ.

ti
m
e

failu
re
occ.

ti
me

fail
ure
occ.

time

0.05

0.05

0.13

0.0
6

12

0.4
7

1.
3

0.
08

0.13

0.
1
5

0.
05

0.
12

0.16

IND 2
IND 3
IND 4
IND 5

0.0
5

City 1

0.1

City 2

0.1

0.09

0.1

0.08

0.1

0.1
3

0.1
9

0.3
6

0.4
8

0.
5
9
0.
5
6
0.
5
5

0.
08

0.09

0.
29

0.27

city 3
City4
City 5

0.1

0.1

0.1
4

16

1.
0
8