Volt/var control at distribution substations

This paper proposes new methods to improve the performance of the current v olt/var control schemes at distribution substations. The approach makes use of the new measurement and computer resources that are now available at th e substations. The paper shows that now supervisory type control schemes ca n be developed to improve the performance of both the voltage regulator con trollers and also the substation capacitor controllers that are used at the substations for volt/var control. The new voltage regulator controller mak es use of the voltage drop characteristics of the feeders it regulates. Cap acitor controller uses local real and reactive power measurements for power factor control at the substation.