Concluding Remarks
The traditional model—large remote power stations with
central dispatch, long transmission lines, and a distribution
system primarily designed to deliver power from
transmission substations to load centers with established
load profi les—may be evolving into a new approach. This
new approach will accommodate greater levels of demandside
management; generation and storage resources on
the distribution system; generation closer to the loads;
perhaps greater fl exibility for islanding and micro-grids;
and considerably higher levels of intermittent generation,
especially on the transmission system. These changes not
only may require changes to the power system capacity and
capabilities, but they also will have a signifi cant impact on
the IT needed to monitor and control the reliable operation
of the power system in a most economical fashion. The IT
impact is particularly signifi cant for the distribution grid,
where, traditionally, very limited sensors, automation, and
information are available. These IT capabilities are the key
to the smart grid.