Impact of Distribution Efficiency on Generation and Voltage Stability

On-going changes in the electric utility industry are imposing ever-stricter constraints upon the operators of transmission networks. The increase in peak load and reduced power margins in the network may under certain circumstances conspire to produce brownouts, or even blackouts, especially when compounded with low probability contingencies. The challenge is also imposed on generation capacity to meet such requirements. An efficient and inexpensive way of coping with those effects is by maintaining sufficient reactive support along the feeders to provide a flat voltage profile, thus allowing deeper levels of voltage reduction when needed. The paper describes how the beneficial effects of voltage reduction allow avoiding adding new capacity to meet peak demand, but also increasing voltage stability margins.