1
Update of the Status of IEEE 1547.8, Expanding
on IEEE Standard 1547
D. L. Bassett, Senior Member, IEEE
Abstract—This is an interim report on the status of the work
on IEEE 1547.8, Draft Recommended Practice for Establishing
Methods and procedures that Provide Supplemental Support for
Implementation Strategies for Expanded Use of IEEE Standard
1547.
Index Terms—IEEE Standard 1547, distribution system,
distributed generation, voltage regulation, UL 1741, distributed
resource, low voltage ride though, power.
I. INTRODUCTION
I EEE Standard 1547 was developed in 2003 and has been a
great benefit to the distributed generation community,
utilities, and regulatory agencies by providing a standardized
set of requirements for the connection of generation to an
Area EPS. The success of this standard has been so great that
secondary effects not previously anticipated or recognized
have now become apparent. IEEE 1547.8 is an effort to
document these secondary effects, as well as provide
enhanced methods for connection of generation.
II. TECHNICAL WORK PREPARATION
Over the years many users of IEEE 1547 have indicated a
desire to have additional capabilities for protection and control
of distributed generation, and the concerns associated with
high penetration of distributed generation documented. With
almost ten years of experience there is now a substantial basis
of cases for alternative protection methods, alternative control
methods, and the effects of large installations or high
penetration of smaller installations.
A. Initial Work
The standard was announced and approximately 80 experts
in various fields responded to each of the two meetings held
so far. We have made quite a bit of progress and the
remainder of this paper will provide some insight to the
progress made to date.
B. 1547.8 Scope
The scope of IEEE 1547.8 is: This recommended practice
applies to the requirements set forth in IEEE standard 1547
and provides recommended methods that may expand the
usefulness and utilization of IEEE Standard 1547 through the
978-1-4673-1935-5/12/$31.00 ©2012 IEEE
identification of innovative designs, processes, and
operational procedures.
C. 1547.8 Purpose
The purpose of the methods and procedures provided in
this recommended practice is to provide more flexibility in
determining the design and processes used in expanding the
implementation strategies used for interconnecting distributed
resources with electric power systems. Further, based on IEEE
Standard 1547 requirements, the purpose of this recommended
practice is to provide the knowledge base, experience, and
opportunities for greater utilization of interconnection and its
applications.
D. The first two meetings
During the first meeting the group was polled to determine
the area of concerns. This large list was then further reduced
to the top approximately10 items by a vote of the members.
This method provided a list of the most important items to be
reviewed.
The initial group was divided into writing groups based on
individuals interest in the major items previously identified.
to provide some detailed information, background
information, and case studies. The preliminary information
and follow-up from the writing groups was compiled and a
compilation of this work was made available for the second
meeting.
The second meeting followed a similar format with the
work of the previous meeting reviewed by the entire group,
reports of the writing groups on the breakdown of the
information provided to data as to whether this was primary
information or background information. The writing groups
were reformed now based on the information provided to date.
The top priority items provided to date are (no specific
order):
• Capacity greater them 10 MVA
• High penetration of PV
• Vehicle to Grid
• Allow active voltage regulation
• Voltage and Frequency ride through
• Better integration with utility protection
coordination, frequency trip settings, voltage trip
settings, operation under fault conditions
• Switching impacts of DR
• Power Quality
• Monitoring and Control (SCADA, etc.)
 2

• Dynamically controlled inverters H. 4.1.4 Synchronization

• Issues identified by IEEE standard 2030 • No changes were recommended
E. The Top items from IEEE 1547 I. 4.1.5 Secondary Grid or Spot Networks
We then reviewed the original IEEE 1547 and determined • No changes were recommended
which specific clauses were effected by the above list. J. 4.1.6 Inadvertent Energization of the Area EPS
These are listed below:
• See IEEE 1547.4 for guidance on Intentional Islands.
1. Clause 4.1.1 Voltage regulation K. 4.1.7 Monitoring provisions
2. Clause 4.1.6 Monitoring provisions • See new section below, part AA.
L. 4.1.8 Isolation Device
3. Clause 4.2 Response to area EPS abnormal conditions
• Minor changes being discussed
4. Clause 4.2.1 Area EPS faults
M. 4.1.9 Interconnect Integrity
5. Clause 4.2.2 Area EPS reclosing coordination (cease • No recommended changes
to energize)
N. 4.2 Response to Area EPS abnormal conditions
6. Clause 4.2.3 voltage • Initial discussions about alternatives to the
prescribed voltage and frequency trips
7. Clause 4.2.4 Frequency
• Review line protection versus unintentional-island
8. Clause 4.3 Power Quality • Protection options
• Grounding options
9. Coordination with UL 1741 • Sags and Swells
10. Data to be provided from DR • Using DR for mitigation
O. Area EPS Faults
11. Expanded use to 20 Mw
• Alternate relays
12. Group operation of multiple DRs • Sequential tripping
• DTT (Direct Transfer Trip)
13. Fault detection and best practices. • Combinations of approaches
Following the first meeting the top rated concerns were given
to the writing groups for consolidation and presentation at the P. 4.2.2 Area EPS Reclosing Coordination
second meeting. The following items are listed in the original • Extend Area EPS reclosing delay
order of IEEE 1547, with are major items of discussion below • Shorten the DR anti-islanding trip time
each. In addition there were some additional areas that are • Voltage block on reclosing (load side)
being considered for this standard, as listed in sections AA
and BB. Q. 4.2.3 Voltage
• Some additional clarification on voltage detection
F. 4.1.1 Voltage Regulation, the DR shall not actively
• Coordination of settings with LVRT (Low Voltage
regulate the voltage at the PCC. The DR shall not cause the
Ride Through)
Area EPS
• Review to provide more flexibility in application of R. 4.2.4 Frequency
DR • Some discussion with frequency settings, specifically
• Impacts on existing regulation devices low frequency settings and coordination with the
• Intermittent operation of DR AREA EPS load shedding
• Reactive power control S. 4.2.5Los of Synchronism
• Uses for voltage regulation • No recommendations made
• Coordination of devices and DR
• Coordination with CVR (Conservation Voltage T. 4.2.6 Reconnection to Area EPS
Reduction) • No recommendations made
G. 4.1.2 Integration with Area EPS Grounding U. 4.3 Power Quality
• TOV Temporary Over Voltage • No recommendations made
• Grounding transformers V. 4.3.2 Limitation of Flicker
• Grounding switches
• No recommendations made
• Transfer trip
•
 3

W. 4.3.3 Harmonics Biographies

• Some minor additional clarifications Mr. David Bassett is an IEEE senior
member and a member of the IEEE
X. 4.4.1Unintentional Islanding Standards Board. He is currently a
• DR limited to 1/3 of the minimum circuit segment load Senior Staff Engineer/Scientist at
• Coordination of voltage and frequency trips PPL Electric Utilities (EU) where he
• Reverse power flow assists with all large generation
• DTT (Direct Transfer trip) projects proposing to connect to the
• Advanced methods (phasor monitoring, PPL EU system. Dave has over 40
communication signal from Area EPS) years of utility experience, starting
with the commissioning for
Y. Intentional Islands equipment 4 kV through 230 kV at a
• Refer to IEEE 1547.4-2011 large power plant and then 33+ years in substation
engineering. He has been directly involved in the connection
Z. 5. Interconnection Test Specifications and Requirements of customer owned generation to the utility system for over 31
• No changes were made initially, however depending years. During this time he has assisted with company
on the proposed recommendations of the previous standards, state standards, MADRI standards, and FERC
sections, additional tests or alterations of existing test standards, as well as being an active member of all of the
will be added. IEEE 1547 series of standards. He also has a software patent
and has extensive background in protection and control of
AA. New Section Monitoring and Control
facilities from 12 kV through 500 kV. He has an extensive
• Discussion on high penetration levels background in the application of PLCs for protection and
• Situational awareness of the DR control, as well as the control of tap changing transformers.
• Various levels of communication may be required He has written about 18 papers on customer generation, use of
• Autonomous mode operation Programmable Logic Controllers in substations, capacitor
• Use cases for the data and control functions bank protection to name a few.
• Data exchange
• Direct Area EPS control
BB. New Section Group behavior of DR
• Discussion of group impacts
• Reliability improvement
• Characteristics of DR
• Coordination of Groups of DR
• Power quality improvements
• Conservation Voltage reduction
• Incremental Bulk System Capacity
• Ancillary Services
• Reduced Congestion
• Emissions reductions
• Load relief
• Ride through

III. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The author gratefully acknowledges the contributions of
the approximately 80 professionals who are actively engaged
in the creation of the IEEE 1547.8 document.