San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has announced the launch of an advanced outage management system (OMS) that will use new smart grid technology to speed up the detection of power outages and help utility personnel restore electricity to customers faster.
According to the utility, the OMS uses new computer software that provides grid operators with real-time information about the status of the electric network and enhances situational awareness of the entire distribution system. SDG&E has also integrated a geographic information system (GIS) into the new OMS.
The OMS leverages data from approximately 1.4 million smart meters that SDG&E has installed across the region. In addition to smart meters, the new OMS uses other technology to bolster outage restoration times. SDG&E says it is continuing to deploy supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) devices, and the utility has installed SCADA systems on 98% of transmission lines and 70% of distribution lines.
By integrating the capabilities of the smart meters, SCADA switches and GIS into one system, SDG&E says it will greatly improve situational awareness and electric grid reliability.
