Cost-effective and reliable utilities distribution network

A computer usable program product comprising a computer usable storage medium including computer usable code for designing a cost-effective and reliable distribution network for a utility (network), the computer usable code comprising:

• computer usable code for reducing a graph connecting a set of consumers of the utility with a set of suppliers of the utility to form a plurality of clusters;
• computer usable code for improving a first network between a supplier and a subset of consumers in a first cluster in the plurality of clusters, the improving adding a first connection in the first network to provide continuity of supply of the utility to the subset of consumers after a predetermined number of failures in the first network;
• and
• computer usable code for generating a design for a second network connecting the set of suppliers to the set of consumers, the second network including the first network after the improving, wherein the second network has a cost that is within a lower threshold and an upper threshold.

A data processing system for designing a cost-effective and reliable distribution network for a utility (network), the data processing system comprising:

• a storage device including a storage medium, wherein the storage device stores computer usable program code;
• and
• a processor, wherein the processor executes the computer usable program code, and wherein the computer usable program code comprises:
• computer usable code for reducing a graph connecting a set of consumers of the utility with a set of suppliers of the utility to form a plurality of clusters;
• computer usable code for improving a first network between a supplier and a subset of consumers in a first cluster in the plurality of clusters, the improving adding a first connection in the first network to provide continuity of supply of the utility to the subset of consumers after a predetermined number of failures in the first network;
• and
• computer usable code for generating a design for a second-network connecting the set of suppliers to the set of consumers, the second network including the first network after the improving, wherein the second network has a cost that is within a lower threshold and an upper threshold.