Reliability Data : A Review of Importance, Use, and Availability

For reliability studies of power distribution systems availability and collection of data on reliability is a key aspect. The acquirement of data can be challenging, because it endures effort and experience to know where to obtain accessible types of data. This paper gives the reader a guide to why input data to reliability analyses and asset management are useful, which data that can be obtained, and how to access the different types of data. Also, how to measure data accurately and the quality needed are discussed in the paper. After a general discussion on the benefits of data, we discuss the importance of knowing exactly what the data are measurements of. Furthermore, we argue that data from different contexts, even if seemingly similar, should be used with care. We also state and explain that the amount data restrict the type of analysis that can be conducted. The paper continues with a description of some examples of (to different degrees) open accessible data. Nationally collected reliability data from Swedish utilities, reported to authorities and interest organizations, are described and discussed. We discuss how Swedish weather data, which recently have become free and open, enable more studies on the weather related reliability effects, and some existing test systems are mentioned. A section follows that describes how failure and condition data are typically stored and utilized internally in organizations. Finally, we conclude that the paper is a potential guide and inspiration for anyone planning to conduct a reliability study in the future.QC 20140922