EE 741

Spring 2014
Distribution Planning and
Automation

Distribution Planning
Distribution system expansion to meet load growth
requires careful planning.
The objective of distribution system planning is to
provide reliable service to customers at the lowest
possible cost.
Short- and long-term planning is driven by two
inputs: future needs and time to fulfill these needs.
Coming up with the best solution involves an
iterative process that considers numerous
parameters

Typical Block Diagram of Distribution Planning Process

Factors affecting load forecasting

Load forecasting tools also involve statistical and econometric

factors.
For long range, the output of load forecasting is in the form of load
density (MVA/square mile).
For short range, load forecasting requires greater detail (such as
peak demand of each customer, etc )

Study System Performance

Conduct load flow, fault, and dynamic analysis
using computer models to predict system
performance with the addition of the forecasted
load.
Satisfactory performance (i.e., company policies in
terms of service reliability, maximum allowable
voltage drop and voltage dip, power loss, etc )
requires no action.
Unsatisfactory performance requires either
the expansion of an existing substation
or building a new substation

Factors affecting substation expansion

Factors affecting system expansion cost

Factors affecting substation siting

Substation Site Selection Procedure

Modern Distribution Planning Issues

Technological factors: Impact of distributed

renewable generation
Power flow,
Voltage regulation,
Fault current protection.

Demand Side Management: Impact on load

demand
Minimize system expansion
Peak load shaving,
load leveling.

Distribution Automation
Generation and transmission systems have been
automated for some time through SCADA.
Distribution Automation is relatively new now part of the
utility Energy Management System (EMS)

Distribution Automation
Distribution automation has a broad meaning and
additional applications are added on a regular basis:
It is an integrated concept of the automation of distribution
substations, feeders and loads.
It includes communication, control, monitoring, protection,
load management, and remote metering of consumer
loads.
It is fueled by increased reliability reporting requirements,
need to operate the system closer to its design limits,
increased efficiency requirements, and tendency to monitor
customer load behavior.

The benefits include improved quality and continuity of

supply, voltage level stability, reduced system losses,
reduced investment, reduced workforce.

Automation and Control Functions

Load management

direct load switching,

peak load pricing,
load shedding,
cold load pick-up (loss of diversity and inrush)

Operational management

feeder load re-configuration,

transformer load management,
voltage regulator and control of switched capacitors,
fault detection-location-isolation

Remote meter reading

automatic customer meter reading,
dispersed storage and generation

Communication
Many communication methods are available:
Dial-up and dedicated leased telephone lines
Power Line Carrier
Radio control (UHF point-to-point and multi-address
system, VHF radio (one-way), packet switching
network, cellular radio)
Fiber optics
Microwave
Satellite communications

Future Smart Grid

Smart Grid Concept Customer Level

Overall Picture of Smart Grid

Assignment # 1
Go to the EPRI website, http://smartgrid.epri.com/Demo.aspx,
download and read EPRI Smart Grid Demonstration Initiative 5Year Update.
Go to the current issue of IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/RecentIssue.jsp?punumber=5165411,
read the titles of the papers on the current issue, select, the print an
article of your choice and read it carefully.