Optimal PMU placement using Iterated Local Search

An essential tool for power system monitoring is state estimation. Using PMUs can greatly improve the state estimation process. However, for state estimation, the PMUs should be placed appropriately in the network. The problem of optimal PMU placement for full observability is analysed in this paper. The objective of the paper is to minimise the size of the PMU configuration while allowing full observability of the network. The method proposed initially suggests a PMU distribution which makes the network observable. The Iterated Local Search (ILS) metaheuristic is then used to minimise the size of the PMU configuration needed to observe the network. The algorithm is tested on IEEE test networks with 14, 57 and 118 nodes and compared to the results obtained in previous publications.