Respond closedown and transfer to business as usual

Our £5.5 million Respond project was completed in October 2018. By testing new technology at 14 of our primary substations, Respond has demonstrated an intelligent approach to managing fault current – the instantaneous surge of energy which occurs when we have a fault on the network.

Using intelligent software known as the fault level assessment tool, Respond calculates the maximum potential fault current (or ‘fault level’) in near real time. When fault level approaches or rises above network equipment ratings, the tool enables or disables one of three Respond mitigation techniques: adaptive protection, the Is-limiter and the fault current limiting service.

The Respond project has successfully proven that we can manage fault level in real time through our network management system. 

Respond will benefit all electricity customers by helping to avoid or defer traditional, expensive and disruptive reinforcement. This will help keep costs down, reduce carbon emissions and allow low carbon technologies to be connected to the network much more quickly. 

Please see the documents below for the key findings from the project and our plans to integrate Respond techniques into our business as usual processes.