Design of Resilient Electric Distribution Systems for Remote Communities: Surgical Load Management using Smart Meters

DOI 10.1109/RWS52686.2021.9611791

Publicly accessible License

This paper describes a systematic process of designing resilient electric distribution systems and microgrids using smart meters for surgical load management (SLM) as part of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). The work focuses on selection approach, integration, and interoperability aspects for AMI in microgrids. SLM is proposed as a granular control methodology for serving selective critical loads across different distribution feeders in the system during extreme events. The surgical load shedding as well as load pick-up provides a robust approach for maximizing critical load served in a resource-constrained electric distribution system or a microgrid. We present the case of a 20 MW islanded microgrid in Cordova, AK, USA, which is the demonstration site for field validation of resilience enhancement technologies for the DOE-funded Grid Modernization project RADIANCE. Cordova microgrid is an islanded distribution grid that provides an environment to prove the approach, and the techniques may also be applicable to other regional distribution systems.

Citation Formats

TY  - DATA
AB  - This paper describes a systematic process of designing resilient electric distribution systems and microgrids using smart meters for surgical load management (SLM) as part of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). The work focuses on selection approach, integration, and interoperability aspects for AMI in microgrids. SLM is proposed as a granular control methodology for serving selective critical loads across different distribution feeders in the system during extreme events. The surgical load shedding as well as load pick-up provides a robust approach for maximizing critical load served in a resource-constrained electric distribution system or a microgrid. We present the case of a 20 MW islanded microgrid in Cordova, AK, USA, which is the demonstration site for field validation of resilience enhancement technologies for the DOE-funded Grid Modernization project RADIANCE. Cordova microgrid is an islanded distribution grid that provides an environment to prove the approach, and the techniques may also be applicable to other regional distribution systems.
AU  - Panwar, Mayank
A2  - Hovsapian, Rob
A3  - Eldali, Fathalla
A4  - Thomas, Tony
A5  - Koplin, Clay
DB  - C-MIX - Community Microgrid Information Exchange
DP  - Open EI | National Laboratory of the Rockies
DO  - 10.1109/RWS52686.2021.9611791
KW  - Hydropower
KW  - Marine energy
KW  - Marine hydrokinetic
KW  - Ocean energy
KW  - Power electronics and inverters
KW  - Power electronics
KW  - Inverters
KW  - Battery energy storage
KW  - Diesel generators
KW  - Other liquid-fuel generators
KW  - Case studies
KW  - Performance
KW  - Power plant controls
KW  - SCADA
KW  - Maintenance and operations
KW  - Operations
KW  - Maintenance
KW  - Commissioning
KW  - Planning and design
KW  - Planning
KW  - Design
LA  - English
DA  - 2021/01/01
PY  - 2021
PB  - NLR
T1  - Design of Resilient Electric Distribution Systems for Remote Communities: Surgical Load Management using Smart Meters
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1109/RWS52686.2021.9611791
ER  -

Export Citation to RIS

Panwar, Mayank, et al. Design of Resilient Electric Distribution Systems for Remote Communities: Surgical Load Management using Smart Meters. NLR, 1 January, 2021, C-MIX - Community Microgrid Information Exchange. https://doi.org/10.1109/RWS52686.2021.9611791.

Panwar, M., Hovsapian, R., Eldali, F., Thomas, T., & Koplin, C. (2021). Design of Resilient Electric Distribution Systems for Remote Communities: Surgical Load Management using Smart Meters. [Data set]. C-MIX - Community Microgrid Information Exchange. NLR. https://doi.org/10.1109/RWS52686.2021.9611791

Panwar, Mayank, Rob Hovsapian, Fathalla Eldali, Tony Thomas, and Clay Koplin. Design of Resilient Electric Distribution Systems for Remote Communities: Surgical Load Management using Smart Meters. NLR, January, 1, 2021.  Distributed by C-MIX - Community Microgrid Information Exchange. https://doi.org/10.1109/RWS52686.2021.9611791

@misc{CMIX_Dataset_80,
title = {Design of Resilient Electric Distribution Systems for Remote Communities: Surgical Load Management using Smart Meters},
author = {Panwar, Mayank and Hovsapian, Rob and Eldali, Fathalla and Thomas, Tony and Koplin, Clay},
abstractNote = {This paper describes a systematic process of designing resilient electric distribution systems and microgrids using smart meters for surgical load management (SLM) as part of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). The work focuses on selection approach, integration, and interoperability aspects for AMI in microgrids. SLM is proposed as a granular control methodology for serving selective critical loads across different distribution feeders in the system during extreme events. The surgical load shedding as well as load pick-up provides a robust approach for maximizing critical load served in a resource-constrained electric distribution system or a microgrid. We present the case of a 20 MW islanded microgrid in Cordova, AK, USA, which is the demonstration site for field validation of resilience enhancement technologies for the DOE-funded Grid Modernization project RADIANCE. Cordova microgrid is an islanded distribution grid that provides an environment to prove the approach, and the techniques may also be applicable to other regional distribution systems.},
url = {https://cmix.openei.org/submissions/80},
year = {2021},
howpublished = {C-MIX - Community Microgrid Information Exchange, NLR, https://doi.org/10.1109/RWS52686.2021.9611791},
note = {Accessed: 2026-08-06},
doi = {10.1109/RWS52686.2021.9611791}
}

https://dx.doi.org/10.1109/RWS52686.2021.9611791

Details

Data from Jan 1, 2021

Last updated Mar 30, 2026

Submitted Jun 2, 2026

Organization

NLR

Contact

Rob Hovsapian

Authors

Mayank Panwar

NLR

Rob Hovsapian

NLR

Fathalla Eldali

National Rural Electric Cooperative Association

Tony Thomas