IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 22

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Typical
Distribution Utility

Number

Service Territory

1

Planning Area

1s-10s

Substations

10s-100s

Feeders

100s-1,000s

Service Transformers 1,000s-1,000,000s
Customers

100,000s-1,000,000s

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Distribution Diagrams Courte
Courtesy of Salt River Project

figure 1. The large "scale" of distribution systems.

pass overhead. The impact this variability has on the feeder
affects the voltage profile, which at times exceeds 105% (126 V
on 120-V base). Increased voltage regulator and capacitor
operations are observed as well.
Another example is the design of feeder protection. One
reason most distribution feeders in the United States are built
in a radial configuration is that such a design yields the lowestcost protection system while also providing safe and reliable
service. A meshed system, like that found in transmission,
may better support DERs but requires an entirely different
planning paradigm for distribution. New types of line equipment would be required to protect a new system configuration.
Given that the grid is becoming more complex, utility
planning needs to change. Distribution utilities must transform existing planning methods into new planning methods
that can accommodate a more integrated system.

A New Approach Is Needed
To effectively plan and operate the distribution grid under
this changing landscape, a more proactive approach must
be taken that accounts for the actual characteristics of the
DERs as well as where the resources are connecting to the
grid. While on the surface these aspects of the problem may
seem obvious, they are quite challenging to capture.
What does a proactive planning approach look like? A
proactive approach considers the true impact, both positive and negative, on distribution. This approach considers
how the location of DERs affects each distribution feeder
22

ieee power & energy magazine

differently and identifies where DERs can be located such
that minimum system upgrades are necessary. Similarly, it
also considers where the DERs can most benefit a distribution system, considering the unique assets and performance
of each distribution feeder. A proactive approach can be
applied across an entire distribution system to account for all
feeders and their unique limitations and capabilities.
Why is this more proactive approach important? If a more
proactive approach is not taken, there could potentially be
increased cost or decreased reliability and power quality for
all customers. If a proactive planning approach is instituted,
costs can be minimized, reliability and power quality can be
maintained, and system performance can be improved by
taking advantage of the DERs and their capabilities.

What Matters Most
While planning functions do not change, certain additional
items should be considered to better integrate DERs and
quantify the overall impact of such resources more precisely.
The main factors that need to be considered in a proactive
planning approach with DERs are 1) DER size and location,
2) the distribution system's response characteristics, and
3) DER technologies. All of these factors are critically
important when planning the integrated grid.

Size and Location
Centralized, utility-scale DERs have a specific impact on the
grid that is based on where it is located along a distribution
march/april 2015



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015

IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - Cover1
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - Cover2
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 1
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 2
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 3
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 4
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 5
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IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 56
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 57
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IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 79
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 80
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 81
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 82
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 83
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 84
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 85
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 86
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 87
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 88
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 89
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 90
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 91
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 92
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 93
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 94
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 95
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - 96
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - Cover3
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2015 - Cover4
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