Hybrid discrete and continuous control for power systems

The control of the electricity supply from generation to end-use has been a n engineering and mathematical challenge for many decades. The continuous i ncrease in power requirements, system interconnections and technological op tions prompted the search for discrete and continuous control systems. With the emergence of competition and limits on infrastructure construction, ne w methods of system control are needed to improve performance, to achieve m inimum cost and desired reliability and to meet environmental requirements. The purpose of this paper is to describe a few electrical system control p roblems and introduce them to the Discrete Event Control research community with the expectation that useful approaches and valuable results will be d eveloped and directed to the benefit of electric power system control needs .