Improved control of capacitor bank switching to minimize distribution systems losses

The authors review the problem of controlling the switching of capacitor banks to minimize losses on distribution systems. A novel class of controls is available that allows capacitor switching to much more closely follow the actual loading on the distribution feeder. This allows for much better control of reactive loading throughout the distribution system, reduced line losses, improved voltage regulation, and reduced facility loading. The operating characteristics and performance of several of the controls are reviewed and compared. To effectively use the controls, distribution systems engineers must have a methodology to determine appropriate switching set points. The development of an appropriate methodology and its implementation in the form of a computer program called VDXTCAP are described