On multi-area control in electric power systems

In this paper we study the concept of electric power system control, when the responsibility for controlling the entire system is shared by agents controlling their assigned areas. Within this framework, we suggest to study the dynamics created by the interactions of agents. In particular,
we discuss the relation that exists between the information available to the different agents and their optimisation objective, and the performance of the overall power system. Simulations results, carried out on a 39-node power system voltage control problem, are provided and analyzed. They highlight, among others, the sub-optimal performance level attained by the system when the different agents exchange information about their area dynamics without sharing a common control objective.