Distribution planning in an electric utility: Feeder configurations

An electric power system consists of a generation, a transmission, and a distribution system. As the distribution system provides the link between power generation and the consumer, careful attention must be given to its configuration and expansion. Multi-year distribution network planning involves ensuring adequate feeder and substation capacities to meet the forecasted load demands over a planning horizon. In this paper, we formulate a mixed 0–1 linear programming model to determine the installation times and the locations of new feeders. The model is based on a single contingency scenario which assumes the failure of the largest transformer at a substation. Next, we apply this model to the Fort Myers distribution network of Florida Power and Light to determine its optimal feeder configuration.