Modeling the Sustainability and Resilience of Regional Electricity Distribution Systems in the Face of Imbalance and Fault Crises: The Role of Strategic Agility in Load Management and Physical Asset Management

Mahmoud Fereydouni

Authors

Mahmoud Fereydouni Department of Electrical Engineering, Technical and Vocational University (TVU), Tehran, Iran Corresponding author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4700-1225

Keywords:

Strategic agility; electricity distribution systems; system resilience; sustainability; load management; physical asset management; imbalance crisis; fault management.

Abstract

This study aimed to model the sustainability and resilience of regional electricity distribution systems under imbalance and fault crises by examining the direct and indirect effects of strategic agility through load management capability and physical asset management capability. This applied, quantitative, cross-sectional study used a descriptive-correlational design with a structural equation modeling approach. The statistical population consisted of managers, engineers, supervisors, and technical, planning, maintenance, asset-management, and system-operation specialists working in electricity distribution and related regional power organizations in Tehran, Iran. A total of 384 participants were selected using stratified purposive sampling. Data were collected using a structured researcher-developed questionnaire measuring imbalance and fault crisis exposure, strategic agility, load management capability, physical asset management capability, system sustainability, and system resilience. The measurement and structural models were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling with SmartPLS, and indirect effects were assessed using 5,000 bootstrap resamples. Imbalance and fault crisis exposure had significant negative effects on system sustainability (β = -0.214, t = 4.756, p < 0.001) and resilience (β = -0.267, t = 6.209, p < 0.001). Strategic agility significantly predicted load management capability (β = 0.628, t = 17.444, p < 0.001) and physical asset management capability (β = 0.592, t = 15.179, p < 0.001) and directly improved sustainability (β = 0.178, p < 0.001) and resilience (β = 0.196, p < 0.001). Load management significantly predicted sustainability (β = 0.337, p < 0.001) and resilience (β = 0.358, p < 0.001), while physical asset management also significantly predicted sustainability (β = 0.293, p < 0.001) and resilience (β = 0.276, p < 0.001). Significant indirect effects confirmed partial mediation. The model explained 61.3% of the variance in sustainability and 66.8% of the variance in resilience. Sustainability and resilience in regional electricity distribution systems depend on the simultaneous management of crisis exposure and the development of strategic agility, effective load management, and systematic physical asset management. Strategic agility contributes to system performance both directly and by strengthening operational capabilities that enable electricity distribution organizations to respond more effectively to imbalance and fault conditions.

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