An integrated approach to network routing

Traditionally capital programs for network extensions are based on power requirement studies, used to estimate the future power needs of a geographic entity. The network is then planned and laid out using methodologies based on load centroids, shortest path, and least cost algorithms. The paper explores the use of a “loadography”, which creates a bridge between load forecasting and network planning and routing. The method provides the system planner with a better understanding of the market´s spatial composition as well as the supply mechanism´s spatial composition. The method provides a better starting point for current optimisation techniques. The method can be extended to demand side management (DSM) planning