Criticality Assessment of Distribution Feeder Sections

This paper describes a simple probabilistic method for assessing the criticality of sections of a distribution feeder. The proposed method accounts for a number of factors such as the feeder configuration, reliability performance of each section of the feeder, number of load points of the feeder, and the number of customers at each load points. The various sections of the feeder can be ranked using any one of feeder performance indices. The list of feeder section ranking will enable distribution planners and asset managers to identify the feeder sections that have the most dominant impacts on the overall feeder performance, and therefore, investment decisions can be made effectively towards those sections. An assessment procedure illustrating how the results of the feeder section criticality are used by distribution asset managers is described. The proposed method is illustrated using one of Hydro One's long distribution feeders.