Monitoring Vulnerability in Power Systems : extraordinary Events, Analysis Framework and Development of Indicators

This paper addresses the needs for monitoring
vulnerability in power systems related to extraordinary events.
An analysis framework is described to identify threats,
vulnerabilities, unwanted events and consequences. Vulnerability
is an internal characteristic of the system comprising
susceptibility and coping capacity towards natural hazards,
human or technical/operational threats. Together with the
external aspects of vulnerability, threats and consequences for
society, vulnerability gives insight into risk related to
extraordinary events. Based on this framework indicators are
developed for monitoring vulnerability. For this purpose it is
necessary to identify critical assets, locations and operating
states. These are factors with potentials for severe consequences.
Examples of vulnerability indicators are given for two different
cases. The first case considers the power supply consisting of two
power lines to a small community, where the main threats are
storm and loading degree of the lines. The second case deals with
a region where the main threat is a strained power situation due
to limited generation and import capacity to the area.