A Method for Evaluating Volt-VAR Optimization Field Demonstrations

In a regulated business environment, a utility must be able to validate that deployed technologies provide quantifiable benefits to the end-use customers. While there are well established procedures for determining the benefits derived from the deployment of traditional technologies, the same procedures do not exist for many emerging technologies. Volt-VAR Optimization is an example of an emerging technology that is being deployed across the nation without a standardized method for determining system performance and benefits. This paper will present a method for the evaluation, and quantification of benefits, for field deployments of Volt-VAR Optimization technologies. In addition to presenting the methodology, the paper will present a summary of results, and observations, from two separate Volt-VAR Optimization field evaluations using the presented method.