The use of AMI meters and solar PV inverters in an advanced Volt/VAr control system on a distribution circuit

Advanced systems for the control of voltage and reactive power flow on distribution circuits offer benefits including energy savings and improved voltage regulation. Such systems require voltage sensing and control elements at numerous locations along the circuit. Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) communicating meters and Smart Inverters associated with photovoltaic systems are being deployed in large numbers. Along with their other benefits, these meters and inverters can serve as the distributed voltage sensors and control elements for an Advanced Volt/VAr Control (AVVC) system. This paper describes the preliminary design of one such system.