This paper summarizes the experience gained while using the object-oriented language Modelica for modeling an AC/DC electric distribution system: the Naval electric shipboard power generation and DC distribution testbed. Modelica's hybrid system modeling capabilities allow efficient formulation of continuous and discrete information processing systems and these have been used to map the power system's components to objects in Modelica. The language clearly shows its advantages in the design phase, as domain knowledge can be directly incorporated into the basic and well-defined components. The limiting factor of using this approach could be the large set of algebraic-differential equations handled at event detection that would slow down the simulation.