1. APIC 2009 Power and Energy Innovation Forum
ATCO Electric’s Jasper Distribution Automation Project

2. Table of Contents Drivers for Automation
Technical Description of Project
Challenges of Automation
Project Update
Future Plans
Conclusion

3. Drivers for Automation 1. Isolation

4. Drivers for Automation 1. Isolation
Pristine Nature of the National Park =
No Transmission Lines
Jasper Town & National Park is the largest islanded system in Alberta
Islanded operation presents unique challenges

5. 1. Isolation 8 generators for a total of 25MW Winter Peak ~ 10MW
Spinning Reserve ~ 3MW
Customers
5L216 – 134
5L252 – 2299
SAIDI varies from 2 – 20hrs, depending on the year

6. Drivers for Automation 2. Reliability
Isolated Generation areas typically suffer from reduced reliability, as compared to systems connected to transmission
Usually these systems are a “last resort” solution to provide power to remote communities
Jasper National Park has world class amenities
Marmot Ski Hill
Jasper Park Lodge
Jasper Tramway

7. Drivers for Automation 3. Business Drivers
ATCO Electric has included Distribution Automation and a Distribution Management System in its business outlook
Jasper National Park was an excellent candidate due to lower reliability
High “Value to Dollar Spent” Ratio
Reliability gains will be easily measured & quantified
Results from this pilot project will be used to further Automation projects at ATCO Electric

8. Technical Description 1. Overview
ATCO Electric has a centralized Distribution Operations Center (DOC)
Decision was made to implement a centralized automation scheme
Advanced Control Systems (ACS) was selected to supply automation system

9. Technical Description 2. Hardware
Distribution Operation Center
ACS supplied PRISM System
Substation Equipment – Jasper Palisades
ACS supplied Connex30 RTU
Reclosers
ABB Outdoor Vacuum Recloser with PCD Controller
Cooper Form 4C Recloser
Gang Switches
Retrofitted with ACS supplied NTX-10/ AIM RTU
Switching Cubicle
Lindsey Electric Elbow Sense CVT sensors
pictures..

11. Technical Description 3. Communications
Pole top RTU to Substation
DNP Serial
Licensed radios
Substation to DOC
DNP over IP
Telus supplied MPLS link

12. 7 ABB PCD Controllers 4 NTX-10 Controllers Linux Workstation
ATCO I-Tek
Corporate Access
Switch HUB
PCI
DL380 Server
Jasper Palisades
Vegreville DOC
DNP over IP
MPLS Link
Connex-30
7 ABB PCD Controllers
Radio
Radio
RS-232
ABB PCD
DNP Serial
Radio Links
Radio
Radio
Radio
RS-232
Radio
RS-232
NTX-10
NTX-10
ABB PCD
4 NTX-10 Controllers
Cooper Form 4C
w/ DNP Controller

13. Technical Description 4. Control Center Operation
Goals of automation
Supervisory Control of Switches
Fault Location, Upstream Isolation
“SmartStart” – Automation assisted load restoration

14. Legend G G G G G G N/C Automated Device N/O Automated DeviceB G
N/C Automated Device
N/O Automated Device B G
5L252
Frequency Load Shedding Device
N/O Non-Automated Device B G
N/O Non-Automated Device
5L216 G R B S S
Palisades Substation S S S S S R
3L114
Jasper swing bus
Astoria DG S R R
Jasper Tram R
3L115 S
Campgrounds
Astoria River
Substation S
Marmot Ski
Resort B G S G B

15. Technical Description 5. ACS System
DOC operators vs. old system

16. Technical Description 5. ACS System

17. Expected Benefits Fault Detection Fault Sectionalization
Reduce Troubleshooting times
Fault Sectionalization
Fewer customers impacted per outage
Faster Restoration with SmartStart
Reduced SAIDI

18. Challenges of Automation
Standardization
Maintenance and Training Concerns
Ownership of New Devices
Compatibility Between Vendors
Cyber Security

19. Project Update FAT Completed: October 22, 2009
Delivery of System: December 2009
In-Service Date: Q2, 2010

20. Future Plans Kick-off of “Phase II” of automation currently underway
Finalize vendor selection for wider system
Focus on Distribution SCADA with Distribution Automation as applicable
Potential Candidates for Phase II:
Ft. McMurray, new Ft. MacKay
Wabasca Oilfield
Grande Prairie

21. Future Plans Other Considerations Cyber Security Compliance
Standardization
Staffing
Training
Asset Management

22. Conclusion
Pilot Distribution Automation project in Jasper has been a major learning experience
(and we haven’t even installed the system!)
Unique characteristics of the Jasper system made it a strong candidate for automation
We consider this project a “jumping off point” to a comprehensive plan for Distribution SCADA, Distribution Automation, and Distribution Management Systems at ATCO Electric

23. Conclusion