Application of T&D Circuit Segmentation for Improved Resilience—A Texas Case Study

ABSTRACT Several lessons were learned from the post‐analysis of 2021 Winter Storm Uri's devastating impact on Texas's electricity grids. Among the lessons was the need for greater granularity and flexibility in how Texas electricity utilities shed load during emergencies, as directed by the local Independent System Operator (ISO), while protecting supply to critical loads and minimising the impact on customers. This paper presents a comprehensive, real‐world study on enhancing the resilience of a Texas electricity distribution system through improved transmission and distribution Circuit Segmentation (CS). It introduces a methodology using representative distribution sector and K‐means clustering to identify representative feeders across customer types. Technical and economic analyses, including power flow simulations and investment estimates for SCADA‐controlled switching solutions, demonstrate how CS enables granular load shedding while maintaining supply to critical loads. The study also highlights the importance of industrial customer collaboration for transmission‐level load shedding and proposes a Storm Readiness Working Group to support integrated planning and climate adaptation.