1. Summary of Results of IEEE CFWG Survey on the Analysis of Cascading Outages
Cascading Failure Working Group of
IEEE PES Computer and Analytical Methods Subcommittee (CAMS)
Marianna Vaiman, V&R Energy
Milorad Papic, Idaho Power Co.
2015 IEEE PES General Meeting
July 27, 2015

2. IEEE CAMS WG on Cascading Failures
Initiated during 2007 IEEE PES GM:
“To investigate new methods, technologies and tools in order to better understand, predict, mitigate and restore cascading failures. Sponsor technical sessions, tutorial courses, workshops, conferences for effective exchange of information on the state-of-the art, best practices, procedures and strategies.”
Chair: Milorad Papic, IPC, USA

3. 2015 IEEE CFWG Survey on Cascading Analysis
CFWG collaborated on conducting the survey with:
IEEE Corporate - Strategic Research;
North American Transmission Forum (NATF);
North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC).
CFWG would like to give special thanks to:
Lesleigh Campanale, IEEE;
Ed Ernst, NATF;
Mark Lauby, Thomas Burgess and Amir Najafzadeh, NERC;
ALL OF THE RESPONDENTS TO THE SURVEY.

4. Survey Overview
Survey was conducted to better understand current industry practices, state-of-the-art, and needs in the area of cascading analysis
CFWG collaboratively put together a list of 15 questions
The survey was anonymous
The survey was distributed by IEEE and NATF; NERC also provided a separate response

5. Survey Questions
How often is the analysis of cascading outages performed in your organization?
In which domain does your organization study cascading events?
What are the main objectives for performing cascading outages analysis in your organization?
Is there a formal definition of cascading outage used in your organization?
Is cascading outage analysis an automated process?
Do you analyze cascading outages using steady-state analysis tools?
Do you analyze cascading outages using dynamic simulations?
Do you use historical outage data in your organization to analyze cascading outages and their consequences?
Do you model or take into consideration the probabilities of initiating events?
Do you use the metrics/indicators to assess the effects of cascading outages?
Do you apply mitigation measures to alleviate consequences of cascading outages?
Is determining mitigation measures to alleviate consequences of cascading outages an automated process?
Do you use synchrophasor data for prediction or analysis of system blackouts/cascading outages?
Are you satisfied with the currently available tools for analysis of cascading outages?
Are there any computations associated with cascading outages you feel present tools fail to address?

6. Survey Results Three sets of results: Results include:
248 usable responses through IEEE
10 usable responses by NATF members
NERC coordinated response
Results include:
Statistics
Comments

7. Survey Results from IEEE

8. Is there a formal definition of cascading outage in your organization?

9. What are the main objectives for performing cascading outages analysis?

10. How often is the analysis of cascading outages performed in your organization?

11. In which domain does your organization study cascading events?

12. Is cascading outage analysis an automated process?

13. How satisfied or not satisfied are you with the tools available for analysis of cascading outages?

14. Survey Results from NATF

15. Is there a formal definition of cascading outage in your organization?
Source: NATF

16. What are the main objectives for performing cascading outages analysis?
Source: NATF

17. How often is the analysis of cascading outages performed in your organization?
Source: NATF

18. In which domain does your organization study cascading events?
Source: NATF

19. Is cascading outage analysis an automated process?
Source: NATF

20. Are you satisfied with the currently available tools for analysis of cascading outages?
Source: NATF

21. What would make you more satisfied/Are there any computations associated with cascading outages you feel present tools fail to address?
Dynamic simulation of cascading outages which should include protection system modeling
Better solution algorithms/robust tools
Automated/optimized mitigation measures
Identifying and classifying widespread system area limitation versus local area limitation
Identifying and quantifying the risk of complicated cascades and large blackouts in a way that allows these risks to be monitored and mitigated
Having a screening tool
Wide area visualization and analysis tools that can identify stress indicators early and help operators take appropriate actions

22. Thank you to all survey participants and facilitators!
Conclusion
CFWG is working on detailed analysis of the results
Will be submitting a paper on the survey results
Thank you to all survey participants and facilitators!