Power generation dispatching is a large complex system problem with multi-dimensional and nonlinear characteristics.A mathematical model was established based on the principle of reservoir operation.A large quantity of optimal scheduling processes were obtained by calculating the daily runoff process within three typical years,and a large number of simulated daily runoff processes were obtained using the progressive optimality algorithm(POA)in combination with the genetic algorithm(GA).After analyzing the optimal scheduling processes,the corresponding scheduling rules were determined,and the practical formulas were obtained.These rules can make full use of the rolling runoff forecast and carry out the rolling scheduling.Compared with the optimized results,the maximum relative difference of the annual power generation obtained by the scheduling rules is no more than 1％.The effectiveness and practical applicability of the scheduling rules are demonstrated by a case study.This study provides a new perspective for formulating the rules of power generation dispatching.