Distribution System Voltage and Var Optimization

This paper presents research work in distribution system voltage and var optimization. For increased efficiency and voltage regulation, an increasing number of voltage and var control devices have been adopted by utilities. These devices usually work autonomously according to local conditions, and consequently the controller settings may not be optimized in terms of specific objectives such as loss minimization and demand reduction. To reach an optimal solution, these controllers need to work collectively within a coordinated framework considering system conditions. This paper reports on-going research in voltage and var optimization. Results considering different load type combinations are presented. It is shown that load types play an essential role in determining the optimization solution.