Identification and Congestion Analysis of Transmission Corridors of the Eastern Interconnection

The paper summarizes theoretical methodology and selected simulation results developed by CRA International in the context of supporting the US Department of Energy in conducting the congestion study of the Eastern interconnection of the US grid. The novel methodology described in the paper introduces a functional definition of a power transmission corridor and develops a methodology to systematically define such corridors, measure their importance and level of congestion. The applied analytical techniques combine spatial cluster analysis of electricity markets with GIS data processing, chronological production cost simulations and power flow analyses.