Optimization of fault intervention prioritization in electricdistribution companies using multi-criteria decision-makingmethods: Application of AHP and VIKOR

Electricity has become a fundamental necessity in today's world, and electrical faults can have serious negative impacts on daily life, sometimes even leading to life-threatening consequences. Therefore, detecting and addressing faults is crucial, and determining when and how to intervene in each fault plays a key role. In electric distribution companies, the prioritization of interventions during power outages is often determined using limited and inefficient methods. Factors such as the number of affected customers, outage duration, complaint status, and distance are considered when establishing fault priorities. The objective of this study is to rank fault points according to their priority and direct response teams based on this ranking. This will ensure not only efficient fault repair but also the optimal use of workforce and resources. This study aims to enhance the operational efficiency of electric distribution companies, increase customer satisfaction, and reduce response times in the case of potentially dangerous faults. This study examines fault and outage management in electric distribution companies and proposes an effective and efficient method for determining intervention priorities using multi-criteria decisionmaking (MCDM) techniques, specifically the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and VIKOR (MultiCriteria Optimization and Compromise Solution) methods. The criteria for fault intervention prioritization were identified based on expert opinions, and the weights of these criteria were determined using the AHP method. Then, the VIKOR method was applied to rank the alternatives and find the optimal solution. By using a multi-criteria analysis, this approach aims to establish an intervention sequence that leads to a more effective and efficient management process.