Identification of potential areas for the use of expert systems in power system planning

摘要

An electric utility industry survey was conducted to identify topics in power system planning that are suitable for the application of expert systems (ES). Results of 14 interviews with 13 electric utilities in Alabama, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Massachussetts, Missouri, Oregon, Texas, and Artificial Intelligence Washington are summarized. The overall reaction from the survey was that expert systems and other (AI) tools have a role in power system planning—both short term and long term. Current applications and perceived needs, however, vary from company to company. While there are some companies who are working on several multiyear expert system projects, there are others who have no formal expert system or AI application activities. There is, however, a consensus on a few broad areas, and a set preferences, a part of which any one of these 13 utilities can identify with. The most prominent consensus item is that expert systems should be introduced slowly so that the user is comfortable with it. As the utility planner gets comfortable with using such systems, and begins to have faith in their results, they will find better and more comprehensive applications. Other consensus items for the application of expert systems in planning include: (a) training engineers moving into new jobs, (b) filtering input data—data sanity checking, (c) checking documentations for completeness, (d) providing documented explanation to those unfamiliar with the process, and (e) performing scenario analysis in a complex and interdependent environment.