Midline Device Design for Feeder Automation Overview of your project – goals and what was involved. SCADA midline device design serves SAPN’s Feeder Automation and Network Reliability programs. These programs were created with the focus to improve the network’s responsiveness to outages and faults. This project involved the configuration of load switches, reclosers and voltage regulators, utilising the Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS), which enables the Network Operations Centre (NOC) to monitor and respond to real-time network events. These devices are strategically placed along power lines to assist in detecting network faults, isolating damaged sections of the network, and restoring power to unaffected areas. Then User Acceptance Tests (UATs) were performed to validate the designs before deployment into the real-time operational environment. This process ensured accurate communication of relevant device alarms, controls and measurements between the field devices and ADMS. Why was your project important for the organisation? This project supports SAPN’s commitment to safety, through increasing the network’s reliability and efficiency. By automating parts of the network, SAPN is able to: •Reduce the duration of outages by automatically isolating affected segments of the network •Minimise the customers effect by faults through restoring power to unaffected areas automatically •Enhance network visibility, allowing operators to make informed decisions •Improve safety by reducing the need for field crews to manually switch devices Our SCADA/ADMS design work ensures that field devices are communicating correctly with the control centre, allowing safe and reliable operation of the network. What impact will your project have on the broader community? For the South Australian community, this project can play a crucial role in increasing the reliability of the distribution network’s electricity supply for its customers. When faults do occur, these systems can automatically isolate affected sections to restore power to as many customers as possible. Additionally, such automated technology helps modernise the grid by providing the infrastructure needed to support the transition to renewable energy sources. These automation systems will play a crucial role in maintaining network stability as distributed energy resources become increasingly prevalent. What challenges did you encounter and what did you learn from the project? One of the main challenges was becoming familiar with unique ADMS behaviours. Small errors in data mapping or device configuration can lead to missing alarms, incorrect measurements, and further unexpected behaviour when testing. This often required careful troubleshooting during the UATs. A key lesson learnt was the importance of attention to detail in SCADA/ADMS design work, where even minor errors (if unnoticed) have significant operational impacts, which demonstrated the value of thorough testing before deploying changesets into the live environment.