Andrew Miles brings power system modeling expertise to improve AVÀÇÂÛ̳ communities

Man smiling with an autumn background
Jeff Fisher
Andrew Miles is a new faculty member at the AVÀÇÂÛ̳ Center for Energy and Power joining the Power Systems Integration team.

The AVÀÇÂÛ̳ Center for Energy and Power is delighted to have Andrew Miles on board as its new research assistant professor.

Miles brings to ACEP his expertise in power system modeling and protection to improve the resiliency of AVÀÇÂÛ̳’s communities. He is currently working on power system modeling for transient simulations. Specifically, his focus is on modeling Arctic villages to understand how integrating inverter-based resources will impact the small communities and to observe the electromagnetic interactions for stability and protection studies. Through this effort, he is also modeling the Power Systems Integration Lab for detailed studies.

Miles’ engagement with engineering work goes back to his college days. While attending the University of Idaho as an undergraduate student, he came back to his hometown of Juneau every summer and winter to intern at AVÀÇÂÛ̳ Electric Light and Power, which he said he enjoyed very much. After receiving his Bachelor of Science, he went on to study for his master’s degree, also at the University of Idaho, focusing on power system protection. He did research for his sponsor, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, for his thesis.

Miles then worked for Black & Veatch as an electrical engineer, focusing on protection and controls. This job opened up an opportunity for him to pursue a Ph.D., again at the University of Idaho, where he conducted research in power system modeling, energy markets, robust estimation theory, cybersecurity and resiliency.

Joining ACEP was a win-win situation for both Miles, who had long wanted to return to AVÀÇÂÛ̳ to work in research in the energy sector, and ACEP, which will benefit from Miles’ experience in power system modeling.

Miles explained his love of the outdoors includes anything and everything outdoors. He is excited to be back in AVÀÇÂÛ̳ for adventures as hiking and bikepacking in the Interior. He also enjoys playing the French horn, which he played while at the University of Idaho as well as in the Juneau Symphony.