This book describes the state of the art of the technology of power control systems. Types of control that are discussed are primarily supervisory control and sequential control. The different control functions that are addressed are data acquisition, monitoring data and events, monitoring trends, historical data storage, and numerical calculations.

The human-machine interface and its functions that are discussed include basic components (screen, keyboard, and cursor positioning devices such as a track ball), alarms, the general use and layout of displays, and report generation.

Software issues that are mentioned are modularization, the use of real-time operating systems, high-level languages, the control system database, and simulation. Other issues are communications, the control room, hierarchical design, system maintenance, modeling, and security.

Several specific examples of power control systems are briefly described. These include the National Control Center System of Zimbabwe, REMVEC in Massachusetts, Sydkraft in Sweden, Norsk Hydro in Scandinavia, and a municipal distribution system in Varberg, Sweden. This book should provide a good introduction to the basis of power control systems from an overall system point of view.