It　is　a　challenge　to　appropriate　formulation　and　solution　to　short-term　scheduling　of　cascaded　hydropower　stations　with　discrete　operating　zones　and　water-head　effects.　A　mixed　integer　linear　programming　model　for　short-term　scheduling　of　the　cascaded　hydropower　generation　system　is　established　that　can　efficiently　handle　discrete　operating　zones　and　water-head　effects.　The　basic　idea　is　the　discretization　of　the　storage　level　of　the　reservoir　while　setting　some　relevant　binary　variables　and　constraints.　The　model　is　then　solved　with　a　CPLEX　package.　Numerical　test　results　concerning　a　testing　system　with　3　reservoirs　and　12　hydropower　generating　units　show　that　the　model　presented　is　effective　and　flexible,　while　capable　of　handling　many　complex　factors　in　short-term　scheduling　of　cascaded　hydropower　systems.　This　work　is　jointly　supported　by　the　Key　Project　of　National　Natural　Science　Foundation　of　China　(No.　60736027),　National　Natural　Science　Foundation　of　China　(No.　60704033)　and　the　National　High　Technology　Research　and　Development　Program　of　China　(863　Program)　(No.　2007AA04Z154).　©　2009　State　Grid　Electric　Power　Research　Institute　Press.