An integrated ANN-K-Means algorithm for improved performanceassessment of electricity distribution units

Abstract

This study proposes a non-parametric efficiency frontier analysis method based on artificial neural network (ANN) andK-Means algorithm for measuring efficiency of electricity distribution units (EDUs). Effect of return to scale of EDU on itsefficiency is included and EDU used for correction is selected based on its scale. K-Means algorithm is used to cluster EDUs toincrease their homogeneousness by handling outlines and noise. Proposed approach was applied to 31 EDUs in Iran . This is firststudy using integrated ANN-K-Means algorithm for improved performance assessment of EDUs. ANN-K-Means algorithm iscompared with earlier models to show its advantages and superiorities in prediction and forecasting.