What is the primary concern for the System Operator following a system fault?

The primary concern for the System Operator following a system fault is the detection of protective relay operation. This is crucial because protective relays are designed to detect abnormal conditions such as faults in the electrical system. They play a vital role in the protection of equipment and the integrity of the power system by isolating faulty sections in order to prevent damage and maintain system stability.

When a fault occurs, the first action is to ensure that relays detect the fault correctly and operate as intended to isolate the affected area. This serves to minimize the impact on the rest of the system and maintain overall system reliability. If the protective relays fail to operate or if their operation is not detected, the system could suffer greater disruptions, which could lead to cascading failures.

While the other choices relate to important aspects of operating a power system, they are secondary considerations compared to the immediate need to understand and respond to protective relay operations during and after a fault situation. Maintaining stability of generator output, ensuring normal power flow, and assessing load shedding requirements are all part of the broader response to a fault, but without effective detection of the fault itself, these actions may not adequately address the immediate risks posed by that fault.