1786 IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol. 12, No.

4, October 1997

APPLTCA

Vesna Borozan, Member IEEE Nikola Rajakovid, Senior Member IEEE

University "Sv. Kiril i Metodij", Faculty of Electrical University of Belgrade, Faculty of Electrical Engineering,
Engineering, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia Belgrade, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Abstract: Application aspects of optimal distribution network number of papers in which the most of theoretical aspects of
reconfiguration are highlighted in this paper. The problem is raised distribution reconfiguration are worked out. In its general
frotn the theoretical solution level to the practical implementation formulation, finding a network configuration with minimum
assessment level. For that purpose, a complex methodology for line losses is a mixed-integer nonlinear programming
operational and short-term planning analyses of distribution
problem. Since Merlin and Back's pioneer proposal .for
systems is created. It manly regards non-automated or low level
automated distribution systems. Optimization of a distribution solving this problem 131, various algorithms have been
network configuration for a given loading condition is done by the suggested for reaching the optimum or near-optimum off a
heuristic method presented in [I]. But, the methodology corresponding objective function [4]. In the most of
appropriateness to the practical applications is attained by algorithms, the objective is minimum resistive line losses for
introducing an original method for load estimation in distribution a given network loading condition 15-71, sometimes
systems with minimum infonnation [2]. Furthermore, the combined with one or more additional objectives for optimal
optimization results are evaluated throughout an appropriate operation of a distribution system [S-111. If this objective is
costhenefit analysis. This way composed tool becomes flexible, consistently applied on a distribution network which load
allowing appraisal of the network reconfiguration potential
profiles continuously vary, the network configuration should
benefits, as well as the economically approved frequency of
switching. The results of the study on Skopje's distribution network be often changed, as well. Literature [12] suggests a
are presented. reconfiguration algorithm capable to cover daily load
variations, and to respectively achieve maximum lloss
Keywords: Distribution system, Load estimation, Minimum loss reduction. Such a continuous reconfiguration is allowed by
reconfiguration, Cost5enefit analysis. today's distribution automation and information technology
I. INTRODUCTION and equipment [13], but the practical aspects of such an
optimization remain to be carefully analyzed through costs,
In the last decade the distribution system minimum loss transient effects and influence to system reliability. For most
reconliguration has been proclaimed as a method for power of the real distribution systems performing frequent
and energy saving achievement, at nearly no cost. The switching is impractical because of several more technical
reconfiguration takes advantages of specific distribution
and economic reasons. Therefore, there is the need for
network structure and customer load varying nature. Most finding a cost effective coIlfiguration in which the network
distribution networks operate radialy, even though there are would operate for some period of time.
several interconnecting tie lines available to increase the Such a faced problem is usually solved by one of the
system reliability. Additionally, the load profile in the following approaches:
distribution network is a function of customer types served. - optimal configuration is obtained by minimizing
Residential, commercial and industrial loads possess power losses for the system peak load 11, 3, 5-11];
differing daily and seasonal load curves. Load profiles vary - optimal configuration is obtained by minimizing
from feeder to feeder due to the mix and dispersion of energy losses for a given period 114-151.
customers served. Using these tie lines, network The first optimization means that the distribution system
configuration can be accommodated to the variation of load will be most efficient at times of peak demand and
to achieve reduction of line losses. unnecessarily lossy during the off-peak times. On the other
The popularization of this method has resulted in a large hand, the second approach guarantees maximum energy
savings for a certain period, but not, as well, maximum cost
PE-397-PWRD-0-01-1997 A paper recommended and approved benefit. Namely, potential cost savings may be missed
by the IEEE Transmission and Distribution Committee of the IEEE because marginal costs of losses during the peak times,
Power Engineering Society for publication in the IEEE Transactions which are very high, are not taken into account.
on Power Delivery. Manuscript submitted July 30, 1996; made Considering that no priority should be given to system
available for printing January 8, 1997.
peak reduction, nor to energy loss reduction, we created an
analytical tool for distribution system cost reduction via
network reconfguration. Developed methodology and
software contain three main steps: real-time load estimation,
effective determination of minimum power loss configura-
tion and costhenefit evaluation. Such a developed tool

0885-8977/97/$10.00 0 1997 IEEE

 1787

permits its flexible use in distribution system short-term 111. METHODOLOGY

planning, off-line decision-making for feeder reconfigura-
Developed methodology contains three individual parts:
tion, as well as, in on-line control of network operation. This load estimation, minimum power loss optimization and
paper presents that tool and the results of a study, performed
costhenefit evaluation. The estimation of network load is
in cooperation with Skopje's Utility, for optimal operation
achieved by original algorithm [2], which economically and
planning of their distribution network. The study results
efficiently uses available remote measurements in a
provided interesting answers to several long-standing
distribution system considering typical measurements from
questions.
the past and a knowledge on load composition and load
11. STUDY NETWORK AND OBJECTIVES behavior at the distribution transformer level. Hence, the
configuration with minimum resistive line losses is
The study network is a portion of Skopje's MV network
determined by an heuristic algorithm, [ 11, which efficiency
(10 kV). This network is served by 3 substations, x/10 kV.
advantages are already proved. Then, the cost effectiveness
About 79 MW of peak load, or 290 GWh energy in the year
of studied network reconfiguration is evaluated through an
(22% of whole consumer demand) is supplied through this 3
appropriate analysis.
substations.
The methodology composition and application capabilities
The network consists of mostly underground feeders (with
can be observed on the chart of Fig. 1.
total length of 172 km) and distribution transformers 10/0.4
kV. Installed capacity of distribution transformers is mostly
630 kVA, but there are few transformers with capacity of
400 kVA. Every network feeder is connected to 10 kV bus of
the corresponding substation through remotely controlled
circuit breakers. But, switching devices existing at the
entrance and exit of a feeder in every distribution
transformer are not remotely controlled. Consequently, every
branch (part of feeder between two distribution transformers)
in the network can be switched, but switching should be
performed manually.
Utility reconfigure the network twice a year, trying to
adapt network's configuration to winter and summer 0 eratorl
variation of load. The "basic summer" radial configuration Decision PPanner
consists of 47 feeders, supplying power to 313 distribution for reconfiguration
transformers. There are 60 tie lines available for changing
the network configuration. Hence, the "basic winter" radial ~ Continuous Reconfiguration
configuration has 42 feeders, 269 distribution transformers
and 48 tie lines. In the meantime, small network portions are Fig. 1. Flow diagram of the developed analytical tool
reconfigured in emergency conditions following the fault, to
The main advantage of the proposed methodology is its
isolate faulted branches, and, in normal conditions, to avoid
flexibility. Load estimation algorithm assures real-time
overloaded network branches or reduce system losses.
evaluation of a distribution network loading condition. Then,
All of the present capacitors in the network are kept in a
applying minimum power loss optimization algorithm, a
fixed position, so, they do not influence this reconfiguration
new configuration which optimally relates the current
study.
loading condition can be found. If the optimal configuration
The network serves a big part of Skopje's downtown and
differs from the current corfiguration, potential saving can
several residential areas with different standard of living.
be calculated through established costhenefit analysis.
There are even some industq locations in the studied area.
Making the decision for feeder reconfiguration is left to the
This mixture of customer types present in the consume was
system operator/planner. He is responsible to coordinate the
the chief reason for choosing the studied area. It was
decision to the general network operation strategy,
supposed that minimum loss reconfiguration would fully
equipment availability, security indices, and other relating
take advantages of load time variations.
factors. If this scheme is implemented in a particular time
Main objectives of the performed study were:
- to quanti@ the potential savings in losses and costs point when the system peak occurs, it would mean network
configuration optimization to the peak power losses.
attainable by network reconfiguration,
- to appraise the beneficial frequency of switching, and Successive application of the methodology cycle at
continuous time-of-day points would achieve network
- to advice the need of investments for remotely continuous recoilfiguration and maximum power and energy
controlled switches in the network.
loss reduction.
Simulating continuous reconfiguration in planning
purposes, the cost effective frequency of switching could be
1788
appraised. Furthermore, a similar study analysis would point
to the optimal number and locations of remote switches in
the network.
Energy loss reduction effectiveness of reconfiguration can
be also considered by successive running of the load
estimation module, for substation forecasted load in a given
period T.
The developed reconfiguration tool possesses all
algorithmic performances for on-line application, as part of
DMS. If such a need arises, a software decision-making aid
should be also developed to include minimum loss
reconfiguration reasons into the other aspects of optimal
network operation.
A. Load Estimation
In the analyses on optimal operation of a distribution
system, information for load on feeder sections and laterals
is vital. Unfortunately, for most of the distribution systems,
the only information available is the total feeder current
recorded at substations. Therefore, it was essential to devise
an approach to estimate the real-time system load. This
section shortly presents recently developed load estimation
method [2], capable to supply input to control functions
algorithms, like feeder reconfiguration, for a practical
distribution system with very low level of monitoring and
automation.
The proposed method for load estimation is capable of
using every available remote measurement in a distribution
system in a simple and efficient manner. The method is load
flow based like the analysis for feeder reconfiguration.
Consequently, it was easy to fit it into the algorithm of this
analysis.
The procedure of load estimation begins with checking a
real-time system model. The task of this step is examination
of the existing scheme configuration by identifying the
positions of normally open branches and checking the
availability of various links and corresponding equipment.
This step is especially practical for the load flow based
applications, because by its execution, the radial (or weakly
meshed) network is prepared for load flow solution.
In the initial load flow solution of the feeder, distribution
transformers' load values are taken from the typical
diversified load curves or from a load forecast data,
whichever is available. This application results in a load
flow different from the actual circuit. Therefore, the final
step is to adjust the load of the entire circuit until the
simulation matches the measured values. Adjustment is
made according to assumption of codirmed load where the
individual loads change in a proportion of their peak values.
The available remote measurements in the system are the
current magnitudes at the beginning of each main feeder and
the voltage magnitude on the low voltage side of the
substations. Distribution transformers' historical load data
consists only of the seasonal peak loads. There is not
forecasting of load at the distribution transformer level.
In order to construct the diversified load curves of
distribution transformers, a load research in the study
consume was carried out. We classified the load into four
customer classes: Residential I (electrically heated homes),
Residential I1 (non electrically heated homes), Commercial
and Industrial. Then, we determined typical normalized load
curves per customer class on the basis of load measurements
in the system and the method proposed in literature [16].
Each customer class differs typical load curves for three
representative seasons: winter, fallhpring and summer; and
for three representative days of the week: average weekday
(Monday to Friday), Saturday and Sunday, for each season.
Normalized diversified load curve, which represents the
behavior of a distribution transformer load, is composed on
the basis of knowledge on percentage consumption of
different customer classes in the transformer load and
corresponding normalized typical load curves. Typical
curves are normalized according to their peak values. So, the
approximate load of a distribution transformer in specified
time interval of a day is calculated by multiplying the value
of its seasonal peak load with the corespondent value from
the normalized diversified load curve.
The voltage dependence of load, in absence of
experimental results, has been modeled on the basis of
knowledge on the composition of customer classes
consumption. The load of Residential I, Residential I1 and
Commercial customer classes is modeled as a constant
impedance and the load of Industrial customer class as a
constant power.
The accuracy of the method is examined on two test-
systems [&lo] and verified by field measurements in the
distribution system under consideration. Fig. 2 illustrates the
appraised method accuracy on the bases of simultaneous
measurements of currents at the distribution transformers of
two sample feeders in the study network. The information on
Fig. 2 represents a distribution of percentage estimation
errors. Error of every examined case was determined as a
percentage deviation of estimated load value from the
corresponding measured value. Then, errors were grouped in
5% long intervals. At Fig.2, the number of estimation errors
in one group is presented in percentage of all examined
cases. So, it is evident that in 23% of estimated load cases,
the error was smaller than 5%; or, that in 59% of cases the
estimation error was smaller than 15%. Such an evaluated
25
g.
h
0 Proposed estirmtlon method error(%)
* 20
s
.?
- 15
1 10
E
%
t i 5
0
3
Fig. 2. Distribution of estimation errors
 1789

method accuracy was appraised satisfactory taking into different in one branch (in 77,7% of cases), or different in
consideration the availability of input information. two branches (in 8,7% of cases). It is interesting to notice
that the maximal difference of two branches does not mean
Method Qualification for Reconfimration Study
maximal difference in loss values, nor the Same
When the load estimation is studied with an intention to configurations have equal losses. Therefore, the obtained set
be used in a precise application, it is necessary to include of optimal configurations was systematized relating to loss
considerations on the method validity for that application. value deviation from the basic case loss value. The average
For this reason, a sensitivity analysis was carried out. It was percentage deviations of case loss values, from the
performed to show how input data variations influence the corresponding basic loss value, are given in Table I.
minimum loss configuration results. The analysis was in As the information in Table I shows, the deviations are
order to appraise the effect of load estimation errors on the not too much dependent on the network loading level.
recodiguration study results. The determination of the Taking this into consideration, we can average the
network minimum loss configuration for a given loading percentage deviations in all of the cases. The result is an
condition was performed by the algorithm [ 11, which will be approximate error of optimization solution of 0. I%, which is
discussed in the next section. consequence of the load estimation inaccuracy.
This analysis was done for 11 basic loading conditions of The error value of 0.1% is comparable with the used
the studied network in its "basic winter" configuration. The optimization algorithm error value, and even smaller than
basic loading conditions were generated multiplying distri- the other heuristic reconfiguration algorithms' errors [I].
bution transformers' peak load by some coefficient, in the Moreover, when the practical application aspects of the
interval from 0.2 to 1.2. The minimum loss configuration for proposed load estimation algorithm are under consideration,
every basic loading condition was found. The percentage the optimization result uncertainty of 0.1% is assumed very
values of losses in these optimal configurations are given in small, too. Namely, in a distribution system with low level of
Table I. monitoring and automation, the potential savings in losses
It is assumed that optimization input data (consisting of should be much higher than 0.1% for reconfiguration to take
distribution transformers' load) has been estimated by the place.
proposed estimation method; then, there are remote All of this verify the used load estimation method for
measurements of load at the beginning of every feeder in the feeder reconfiguration studies.
network; and, consequently, the estimation errors has the
same distribution as the results at Fig.2. For every basic B. Minimum Power Loss Optimization
loading condition, which distribution transformers' load
values were considered exact, 50 possible solutions of the The determination of the network minimum loss
load estimation algorithm were generated by random coilfiguration for a given loading condition is performed by
variation of the basic load. The random generator's earlier developed algorithm [l].
distribution was equal to the error distribution from Fig.2. The solution procedure starts with all the network
Hence, it was watched for the sum of generated load values switches closed, (except for those that should not be closed
to match the basic load value at the beginning of each feeder. for any reasons). So, we should treat a weakly meshed
Then, for each of the 50 possible loading conditions, network instead of a radial network. Network loads are
related to a basic loading condition, the configuration with represented by voltage dependent current injections at the
minimum resistive line losses was found. Resulting network nodes. Load flow method used for nodal voltage and
configurations were the same with a corresponding basic current injections calculation is a compensation based. It is
optimal configuration (in 13,6% of cases), or they were specialized for solving distribution networks using good
numerical performances of radial network solution
TABLE I. INFLUENCE OF THE ESTIMATION ERRORS TO algorithms, which efficiency is based on the oriented branch
RECONmGURATION RESULTS
numbering scheme.
I Base case / I Power losses for base I -
Averare loss deviation I Knowing the current injections at the network nodes,
multiplier I case (%) (%)
currents in the loop branches can be adjusted to minimize
resistive line losses. Adjustment is made according to
I 0.3 I 0.4993 I 0.0834 I "optimal flow pattern" algorithm [3]. Branch currents for the
I I
I
1
0.4
0.5
0.6 I
0.6681
0.8382
1.0096 I
0.1066
0.1153
0.1059 I
optimal flow pattern are assured by simultaneous solution of
Kirchhoff s current and voltage laws for resistive model of
the network. In that model each branch of the network is
0.7 1.1822 1 0.0907 represented by its resistance. At each stage of the process,
when optimal flow pattern is reached, among all loops of the
, I 0.0959 I network, the branch having the lowest current has to be
1.7082 0,1039 I opened. The result of this act is elimination of one of the
1.1 1.8862 0.1119 network loops that cause minimum disturbance in the
I 1.2 I 2.0658 I 0.0916
I optimum flow pattern.
1790
The entire process, starting with the load flow solution for
the actual meshed network configuration up to the opening
of the switch in the branch carrying the smallest current, is
repeated until the network becomes radial. Every time when
one branch is switched off, the loop number decreases and
the network gels new configuration. Increased efficiency of
the method is achieved by implementation of the algorithms
for partial reordering of network branches and loop
impedance matrix re-evaluation [ 11.
The network configuration determined that way is
optimum or near optimum solution of the problem. The
algorithm accuracy is appraised on test-networks [5,8,10]
and results are presented in literature [l]. We consider that
result uncertainty of the used minimum loss configuration
method, for the study system, is not higher than 0.1%.
C. Cost Evaluation
The objective in distribution network operation is to
minimize costs, while the rel~abilityremains at least on the
same level. To evaluate the costshenefits of minimum loss
reconfiguration the following has to be taken into
consideration: i) costs of losses; ii) costs of switching; and
iii) outage costs.
We calculate losses in a distribution network with the
prices that distribution utility pays for taken power and
energy. Such a valuation of losses comes from the basic aim
of the proposed methodology. Namely, the methodology is
developed as an optimization tool which should help the
utility to decrease costs for losses. The final effect of
proposed optimization would be decreasing of energy and
peak power quantities taken from the transmission.
Evaluating the costs of losses, it should be paid attention
to the fact that the optimization of network configuration for
maximum reduction of peak power losses does not mean
maximum reduction of energy losses; and nor does the
opposite. When the optimization on peak power losses
results with a different network configuration than the
optimization on energy losses, an analysis on the cost-
effectiveness of these two configurations should be carried
out. Result depends mostly on existing prices of kWh, and
peak kW and on quantities of loss reduction achieved by the
different optimizations. Usually, the price of peak kW is
300-500 time higher in value, than the kWh price. It is
estimated that the minimum peak power optimization takes
advantage if the ratio of positive difference of energy losses
and positive difference of peak power losses in two optimal
configurations i s higher than 300-500.
The cost of switching depends mostly on the level of
automated control in a particular distribution network. If the
recoIlfiguration is performed by remote switching, the cost
would be evaluated by considering the price of switching
devices and the influence of frequency of switching on the
life span of these devices. Hence, when the manual
switching is under consideration, the labor costs and costs of
the possible interruption of service should be added.
Anyway, the utility should provide a methodical strategy
of feeder reconfiguration to ensure minimal interruption of
client service, and inviolation of functional ability of the
equipment. The switching sequence must be selected such
that the transient effect is minimized and no temporary line
constrains are violated. An optimal switching strategy must
be developed prior to an efficient implementation of a
reconfiguration.
The outage costs indicate the inconvenience to the utility
or the customer caused by intemptions in a distribution
network. The utility costs include the loss of revenue from
the customers not served and increased expenditure due to
maintenance and repairs. We account for these costs in our
study. Types of customers are not equally sensitive to
frequency and duration of interruptions in energy supply. So,
the cost evaluation met by customers differs in dependence
on customers' category.
It is very delicate to find out direct effects of feeder
reconfiguration to the customer service and system
reliability. Most outage costs are due to faults and they can
be reduced using advanced methods for fault location and
restoration. In normal operation the expected outage costs
can be taken into account by improving the reliability of the
network. The direct reflection of a frequent reconfiguration
to the system reliability would be a task of another detailed
study. Our considerations are, besides the risks of equipment
damage and switches' life span shortening that negatively
influence the system reliability, that the reconfiguration for
loss reduction contributes to the load balancing of feeders,
that, on the other hand, improves security indices. Which of
these influences will prevail depends on system
characteristics, like existing reliability indices, state of
operational equipment, etc.
IV. STUDY ANALYSES AND RESULTS
The performed analyses in order to plan the network
configuration for January '96 are demonstrated in the
following. January is the coldest month in the climate area.
The system is usually heavy loaded and many system's
substations reach their yearly peak load during this month.
We used the historical information for this period of the
year to simulate network loading condition. The correspond-
ing available information was:
- seasonal peak load of distribution transformers
occurred during the winter '95,
- remote meters' records for the average working day
in January '95, and
- remote meters' records for the average non-working
day in January '95.
January '96 had 23 working and 8 non-working days.
Studied network was in its "basic winter" configuration.
The application of the load estimation algorithm on recorde
load for this configuration showed that power losses would
be in the interval from 0.5% to 1.3%, depending on daily
load variations. There would not be any voltage limit
violation in the network. Ap~roximatingthat every working
day in January '96 is the same with the average working day
in January '95, and every non-working day in January '96
with the average non-working day in January '95, then, total
 1791

monthly energy losses would be 424,560 kWh, or 1.05% of TABLE U. RECONFIGURATION S 1 FOR AVERAGE WORKING DAY
total delivered energy.
The computer simulation of continuous network
reconfiguration was carried out in order to examine the 35,604
maximum possible savings in losses (simulation SI). In the
35,651
simulation, the decisive role of the operator/planner was
substituted by the rule: network reconJguration is performed
I I
~

each time when the power losses in the obtained optimal

9am-2pm W9am 4 1 64 34,264
I
configuration for certain loading condition are for at least
0.2% smaller than those in the current conJguration. The
I 3om-10om I ~ 3 I~ m5 I 69 I 36,348 I
value of 0.2% was determined by summing up the intervals
10pm-12pm I WlOpm I 2 I 68 35,604

of result uncertainty of used estimation and optimization

algorithms. In order to generate as many minimum power Configu No.of Peak power Monthly energy
loss configurations for further analyses as possible, the costs Period -ration different loss reduction loss reduction
of switching were not considered in this stage. I branches I (kW) I (kWh)
The results of S1 simulation for the average working and
non-working day are shown in Table I1 and Table 111, 3am-6am N3am 6 65 35,045
respectively. Different optimal configurations got their 6am-5pm N6am 8 63 34,443
marks in dependence on the type of day and hour of their 5pm-7om NSnm 11 66 34,978
occurrence. Table I1 and Table 111, for each configuration, 7om-11~m I N7nm I 3 I 68 I 35.769 I
contain the number of branches different than those in the
previous configuration, then, the power loss savings in the
period of daily peak and the appraised monthly energy loss
savings, in case if the configuration stays in operation for the Configu No.of Peak power Monthly energy
Period -ration different loss reduction loss reduction
whole month. Loss savings are calculated in relation to branches (kW) (kWh)
losses in the network "basic winter" configuration. It should Oam-6am WlODm I 68 35.604
be noticed that, for the working day peak hour occurs at 5 6am-l0pm W6am I 4 1 66 35,385
p.m. and for the non-working day at 1 p.m.
In comparison to the "basic winter" configuration, by
performing such an ideal continuous reconfiguration, the
following loss savings could be accomplished: 38,570 kWh Confgu No.of Peak power Monthly energy
of energy losses for the month (or, 8.57% of total monthly Period -ration different loss reduction loss reduction
energy losses), and 69 kW of peak power (or, 7.53% of peak branches (kW) (kWh)
demand). With the current averaged price of energy and Oam-4am WlOom I 68 35,604
power of $0.042/kWh, these monthly savings are appraised 4"1-6am N4"n 6 65 34,526
to $1,620. This is a noticeable amount, but the continuous 6am-7pm N6am 8 63 34,443
reconfiguration can hardly be proved if costs of switching 7om-1 lnm N7om 8 68 35.769
are taken into consideration. Namely, one line switch costs
about $2,000, and it can be operated 1000 times during the
life cycle. Besides, the average labor cost to operate a switch
losses for the month (or, 8.42% of total monthly energy
is $21. Therefore, in our study, the total cost of one
losses), and 66 kW peak power losses (or, 7.24% of peak
switching is approximately $23. The number of switching
demand). This savings are equivalent to $1,590. However,
operations for performing the continuous recotfiguration
the costs of switching ($18,768) still exceed the benefits of
during the month is 1,698. So, the amount of monthly
this continuous reconfiguration.
benefits for saved losses is incomparable in regard to the
Contrary to the results of simulated continuous
amount of monthly costs for switching ($39,054). Even, if
reconfigurations, almost every of sub-optimal configurations
the switches were operated remotely, the cost for switching
in Tables I1 - V offers pretty much the same savings, but
would be predominant.
without any switching during the month. In this fact, we saw
The same simulation was repeated, but under condition of
the potential benefit of the distribution network minimum
performing network reconfiguration each time when loss
loss reconfiguration for our study. The system operation
savings higher than 0,5% ware achieved, (simulation S2).
planner should make a choice of network configuration that
The results of this (S2) are shown in Table IV and Table V.
would stay in operation at least for a month in one season.
The information in these two tables corresponds to the
All of the offered cotfigurations are very close to each
information in Tables I1 and Tables 111. It can be noticed that
other by their potential loss savings. Therefore, the
the number of switching (816 switch operations for whole
configuration satisfying remaining technical criteria for well
month) decreased significantly. Such a continuous recon-
operation of a distribution network or/and some practical
figuration could accomplish savings of 37,857 kWh energy
1792
criteria known to utility personnel, would take the
advantage.
Nevertheless, in order to complete this example of the
study network configuration planning, we chose the
configuration W3pm. This is a configuration that is both
optimal at peak hours of an average working day and such
that brings the greatest saving of energy losses.
Implementation of this configuration, in comparison with
the current configuration, would achieve the following
savings: 36,348 kWh of energy losses for the month (or,
8.13% of total monthly energy losses), and 69 kW of peak
power (or, 7.53% of peak demand). The financial effect of
this implementation would be $1,540 for the month.
V. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION
This paper has proposed a systematic methodology for
distribution network minimum loss reconfiguration analyses.
The methodology contains three main parts: real-time load
estimation, effective determination of minimum power loss
configuration and costhenefit evaluation. Such a
construction permits its flexible use in study analyses on
optimal operation, as well as, in short-term planning of
distribution systems. It can be also used in off-line decision
making for feeder reconfiguration, or even in on-line control
of network operation, if corresponding computer
applications are developed.
By using the proposed methodology, a study on practical
minimum loss reconfiguration benefits was carried out. The
study was performed in cooperation with Skopje's Utility, for
optimal operation planning of their distribution network.
Part of the study analyses is presented in this paper. The
results of the study contribute to the highlighting of the
practical minimum loss reconfiguration benefits.
Skopje's distribution network does not lead itself into
reconfiguration, not even in the theoretically most suitable
load conditions for reduction of network losses by this
method. The reconfiguration on the time-of-day basis is still
far from being economically proved. Even an automated
switching would not bring better cost effectiveness to
frequent network reconfiguration.
The network configuration planning should be studied
seasonally, trying to introduce some smaller corrections at
least once a month. Such a distribution network planning
can easily obtain great cost reduction.
VI. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Financial support given to this work by the Ministry of
Science of the Republic of Macedonia is appreciated. The
authors wish to thank Skopje's utility company for providing
system data associated with the study. Especially, we wish to
thank A. Sekerinski, G. Janevski and S. Ilievska for all of
their support.
VII. REFERENCES
V.Borozan, D.RajiCid, RACkovski, "Improved Method for Loss
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Vesnn P.Borozan (M '92) was born in 1962. She received her B.S. and M.S.
degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University "Sv. Kiril i Metodij" in
Skopje, and her Ph.D. degree &om the University of Belgrade in 1996. In 1987
she joined the Liniversity "Sv. Kiril i Metodij" in Skopje, and presently she is a
teaching and reseweh waistant in Power Systems at the same University. Her
subjects of interest are computer applications in power and distribution system
analyses.
Nikola Lj. Rujakovid (M '89, SM '94) was bom in 1952 in Yugoslavia. He
received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Belgrade, Yugoslavia in 1983.
Presently he is a full professor at the same University. He has published over
seventy papers (15 in refereed journals), and three textbooks. He has also
worked in nunierous power system projects. His research interests include
steady-shte analysis of power systems, power system optimization and
harmonic modeling. He is a member of the CIGRE and chairman of the PES
Chapter in Yugoslavia.