Risk and Vulnerability Management of Electrical Distribution Grids

Risk and vulnerability management can serve a very important purpose as a decision support tool for investments and planning of electrical distribution systems. In 2006 amendments to the Swedish Electricity Act came into force, stating that every distribution system operator has to, on a yearly basis, perform a risk and vulnerability analysis regarding security of supply to customers. Furthermore, the act also declares that risk mitigating efforts should be addressed and reported to the enforcing authority, i.e. encompassing a risk and vulnerability management approach. The present paper will discuss the concept of risk and vulnerability management for electrical distribution systems and how it interplays with other regulatory frameworks. Similarities and differences between the concepts of risk and vulnerability, as proposed by the authors, are also discussed. The paper covers both how such an analysis can be performed, using consumer and network structure information combined with network operational and performance data, and how the results can be incorporated and utilised in the overall management of electrical distribution systems. Important issues that require further research and input from stakeholders are also illuminated. Such issues are for example how to define appropriate risk acceptance criteria and the impact of the regulatory framework concerning quality of supply for distribution system operators