Approaches for preventing power outages - A case study into Scania

Abstract: In this paper I examine the approaches taken by actors in Scania to improve power reliability and prevent outages. This means that I study what the relevant actors do in order to detect threats and vulnerabilities to the power supply. I also study the measures they take to reduce these risks and prevent outages. From that I draw a conclusion on their approach to the issue. To categorize the organization’s approaches I use the Normal Accidents Theory and High Reliability Organization Theory. The information will be gathered by using literature study, interviews and observations. The information gathered is analysed to determine what approach each actor has, the region as a whole has and what patterns that can be discovered in the use of approaches and why that pattern has taken place. Finally I shed some light on how this impacts the reliability of power supply in the region and how the theories’ implications can help improve the approaches to power reliability. The conclusion drawn is that the region’s actors as a whole do use the measures implicated by the two theories. But they implement the measures in a context independent manner and with regards to current needs. This leads me to conclude that the actual approach of the region is one of practicality. Generally one actor relies on one type of approach. The utility companies tend to go for the technical answers provided by the Normal Accidents theory and the public organizations tend to implement organizational measures as suggested by High Reliability Organization theory. But applying them in a context independent way reduces the reliability potential. Incorporating a more systematic approach will help in detecting long-term, cross-sectorial risk and help evaluate the measures proposed to deal with these risks.