Volt/VAr control at distribution substations

This paper proposes new methods to improve the performance of the current volt/VAr control schemes at distribution substations. The approach makes use of the new measurement and computer resources that are now available at the substations. The paper shows that new supervisory type control schemes can be developed to improve the performance of both the voltage regulator controllers and also the substation capacitor controllers that are used at the substations for volt/VAr control. The new voltage regulator controller makes use of the voltage drop characteristics of the feeders it regulates. The capacitor controller uses local real and reactive power measurements for power factor control at the substation.