This paper is part of a series presented on behalf of the System Resto
ration Subcommittee with the intent of focusing industry attention on
power system restoration. The presence of excessive standing phase ang
le (SPA) differences across open circuit breakers causes significant d
elays in power system restoration. These angles may occur across a tie
line between two systems or between two connected subsystems within a
system. They must be within SPA limits before an attempt is made to c
lose breakers to firm up the bulk power transmission system. There has
been a need for an efficient methodology to serve as a guideline for
reducing excessive SPA differences to allowable limits, without resort
ing to the raising and lowering of various generation levels on a tria
l and error basis. This paper describes such a methodology.