The 33rd China International Exhibition on Electric Power Equipment and Technology
Shanghai International Energy Storage Technology Application Expo / Hydrogen Energy Expo
A Distribution Management System (DMS) is an advanced software platform used by electric utilities to monitor, control, and optimise the operation of medium and low-voltage distribution networks. DMS integrates data from SCADA systems, smart meters, field sensors, and geographic information systems (GIS) to provide operators with a real-time picture of distribution network status. Key DMS functions include fault location, isolation, and service restoration (FLISR); volt/VAR optimisation (VVO); outage management; load balancing; and integration of distributed energy resources (DERs). Advanced DMS platforms — often called Advanced Distribution Management Systems (ADMS) — combine traditional DMS functions with EMS capabilities, enabling unified management of both transmission and distribution networks.
5 Key Questions About Distribution Management System (DMS)
SCADA provides the real-time data acquisition and basic control functions — collecting measurements from field devices and enabling operators to remotely operate switches and equipment. DMS builds on top of SCADA data to provide higher-level analytical and optimisation functions: network topology analysis, fault location algorithms, load flow calculations, and automated restoration sequences. Modern utility control centres integrate SCADA and DMS into a unified platform, but the distinction remains important: SCADA is the data layer, while DMS is the intelligence layer that interprets and acts on that data.
Fault Location, Isolation, and Service Restoration (FLISR) is a key DMS function that automates the response to distribution network faults. When a fault occurs, the DMS uses measurements from fault indicators, smart meters, and protection relays to locate the fault section; automatically opens switches to isolate the faulted section; and closes alternative supply paths to restore power to unaffected customers — all within seconds, compared to the minutes or hours required for manual restoration. FLISR can reduce the average duration of supply interruptions by 50–80%, significantly improving the SAIDI (System Average Interruption Duration Index) metric used to measure distribution reliability.
Volt/VAR Optimisation (VVO) is a DMS function that coordinates voltage regulation equipment (tap changers, capacitor banks, voltage regulators) across the distribution network to maintain voltages within acceptable limits while minimising reactive power flows and losses. VVO can reduce distribution network losses by 2–5% and reduce peak demand by 1–3% through conservation voltage reduction (CVR), delivering significant energy and cost savings. As distributed solar generation creates voltage rise challenges on distribution feeders, VVO becomes increasingly important for maintaining power quality and enabling higher renewable penetration.
Modern DMS platforms include DER management capabilities that monitor and control distributed solar, storage, and flexible loads connected to the distribution network. DER-aware DMS can model the impact of distributed generation on network voltages and loading, coordinate DER dispatch for network support, and manage the transition between grid-connected and islanded microgrid operation. As distributed energy penetration increases, DMS must evolve from a passive monitoring tool to an active optimisation platform that coordinates thousands of distributed resources in real time.
China's distribution network automation and DMS deployment has accelerated significantly under the State Grid and Southern Grid's smart distribution network investment programmes. Major urban distribution networks in cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen have advanced DMS platforms with high automation rates. Rural and secondary city distribution networks are at earlier stages of automation. The 14th Five-Year Plan targets further improvement in distribution network reliability and automation, driving continued DMS investment. Chinese DMS vendors including NR Electric, Xuji Group, and NARI Technology are competitive with international suppliers in the domestic market.
Key Takeaways
High-voltage direct current transmission enables efficient, long-distance power transport with minimal losses, connecting China's resource-rich western regions with load centres in the east. HVDC technology is also critical for integrating large-scale renewable energy and cross-border interconnections. EP Shanghai showcases the latest HVDC equipment and systems from leading global and domestic manufacturers.
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