Case Study: Idaho Power achieves dynamic transmission protection and higher transfer capacity with Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) remedial action schemes

Idaho Power RAS A Dynamic Remedial Action Case Study

Idaho Power worked with Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) to replace aging remedial action schemes at a critical Idaho transmission substation that ties together 345 kV, 230 kV, and 500 kV lines. The challenge was to maintain system stability and prevent thermal overloads on heavily loaded transmission corridors while allowing higher power transfers, even during outages and maintenance.

SEL implemented a dual primary redundant remedial action scheme (RAS) with fast substation-hardened controllers, high- and low-speed communications, dynamic arming calculations, action tables, and a test/playback simulator. The system can trip generation, bypass series capacitors, and insert shunt capacitors in under 12 milliseconds total throughput time, met WECC requirements, passed six months of parallel operation with perfect performance, and went live in November 2009, enabling Idaho Power to operate at higher transfer limits with improved reliability and maintainability.

Idaho Power

Michael Vaughn

Idaho Power