A real-time alarm processor

Abstract

The Consolidated Edison Company of NY Inc. (Con Edison) System Operation Computer Control System (SOCCS) monitors and assists in the control of electric power transmission and distribution in the New York City area. SOCCS gathers data from monitored points, compares them againt expected normal values, and generates alarms and events when deviations occur. The SOCCS Alarm Advisor (SAA) is an on-line real-time system that assists system operators by identifying and suppressing so-called nuisance alarms, by analysing the electrical network's status and by recommending appropriate restoration procedures. SAA processes up to 200 alarms in a 2s scan, using physical, functional and temporal models to locate problem areas and to propagate the effects through a causal network. SAA became operational in June 1989 operators with timely reports on system conditions and operations. In March 1990, SAA was recognized by AAAI as an innovative application of AI and was further honoured by being mentioned in the keynote address of that year's convention. This paper presents the design, costs and benefits of SAA as well as an update on the results from the last two years of on-line experience.