Tacoma Power

Dynamic Line Rating deployment feasibility study

Modern power grids face increasing load demands, forcing utilities to improve efficiency instead of pursuing costly infrastructure upgrades. This team was tasked with evaluating Dynamic Line Ratings (DLRs) as a feasible alternative. This evaluation was done by developing a tool that calculated theoretical DLR ratings through an analysis of historic weather data. These ratings were then compared to Tacoma’s existing methodology. The team also identified transmission routes that would benefit most from DLR implementation. The project found that DLR technology would increase line ratings by a meaningful margin, thereby allowing Tacoma to safely meet load demands without requiring expensive upgrades.