  This paper explores the novel concept of damping controller coordination,
which aims to minimize the Total Action metric by identifying an optimal
switching combination (on/off) of these controllers. The metric is rooted in
power system physics, capturing oscillation energy associated with all
synchronous generators in the grid. While coordination has shown promising
results, it has relied on computing linear sensitivities based on the grid
model. This paper proposes a data-informed framework to accurately estimate
total action and subsequently determine an optimal switching combination. The
estimation is provided by a multivariate function approximator that captures
the nonlinear relationship between system-wide area measurements, the status of
damping controllers, and the conditions of the disturbance. By enabling
real-time coordination, electromechanical oscillations are reduced, enhancing
power system stability. The concept is tested in the Western North America
Power System (wNAPS) and compared with the model-based approach for
coordination. The proposed coordination outperforms the model-based approach,
demonstrating effective adaptability and performance in handling multi-mode
events. Additionally, the results show significant reductions in low-frequency
electromechanical oscillations even under various operating conditions, fault
locations, and time delay considerations.
