Current PECO’s transmission monitoring and control system is 15 years old and nearing its end of life. It had been upgraded in 1999 for the 2000 conversion and again in 2001 for improved recovery to unplanned operational events. The new EMS will be operated in parallel with the existing system during the summer peak period of 2010.
Scott Boyer, PECO manager, IT Solutions, and project lead, said PECO selected GE after a very detailed analysis of various suppliers, their users, system capabilities and demonstrations. he said. “The XA/21(TM) will provide the solid backbone needed for reliable transmission and future smart grid applications.”
Each dispatcher in transmission system operations (TSO) will have four display monitors, rather than the current three. In a Windows friendly environment, the GE Energy system is anticipated to offer the operators with more information in a filtered, better-organized manner, enhancing their level of situational awareness. Additionally, the system will make certain compliance with federally mandated and cyber infrastructure protection standards, established by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), and will provide a reliable interface with operators at PJM Interconnection, the regional transmission grid operator.
Currently the SCADA system requires data updates on a monthly basis. The new system will offer a more robust test environment for future system upgrades and can contain frequent changes to reflect any operating changes with PECO’s transmission substations or transmission lines across the region.
“We are pleased by PECO’s decision to join the growing XA/21 user community and to implement a system that provides a backbone for stable and reliable transmission needed in future smart grid applications,” said Sisir Padhy, general manager of GE Energy’s automation business.
