System and method for controlling voltage on a distribution feeder

1. A method for controlling voltage on a distribution feeder, the distribution feeder including a plurality of capacitor banks associated with the distribution feeder, the plurality of capacitor banks including a first capacitor bank and a second capacitor bank, the first capacitor bank being configured to connect to the distribution feeder when a first voltage is below a first lower threshold value and to disconnect from the distribution feeder when the first voltage is above a first upper threshold value, the first upper threshold value and first lower threshold value being determined based on an operational set point of the first capacitor bank, the method comprising:

determining at a computing device the operational state of the first and second capacitor banks;

measuring the first voltage with a voltage sensor associated with the first capacitor bank;

determining whether the first capacitor bank should be connected to or disconnected from the distribution feeder; and

sending a first instruction to the first capacitor bank, the first instruction causing the first capacitor bank to vary its operational set point.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operational state is one of connected or not connected.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining whether the first capacitor bank should be connected to or disconnected from the distribution feeder includes:

determining that operational state is connected; and

determining that disconnecting the first capacitor bank will flatten a voltage profile of the distribution feeder.

4. The method of claim 3 , sending includes sending the first instruction such that it causes the first capacitor bank to increase its operational set point.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining whether the first capacitor bank should be connected to or disconnected from the distribution feeder includes:

determining that operational state is disconnected; and

determining that connecting the first capacitor bank will flatten a voltage profile of the distribution feeder.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein sending includes sending the first instruction such that it causes the first capacitor bank to decrease its operational set point.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

after sending the first instruction to the first capacitor bank to cause it to vary its operational set point, sending a hold instruction to one or more of the plurality of capacitor banks that disallows them from changing operational status;

determining a lower input voltage for the distribution feeder; and

sending a second instruction to the first capacitor bank to decrease its operational set point.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the lower input voltage is between 126 and 114 volts.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the lower input voltage is lower than a current input voltage by a voltage difference and the second instruction causes the first capacitor bank to lower its operational set point in an amount equal to the voltage difference.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

sending a release instruction to the one or more of the plurality of capacitor banks that allows them to change operational status.

11. A system for controlling voltage on a distribution feeder, the system comprising:

a plurality of capacitor banks that can be connected to or disconnected from the distribution feeder, the plurality of capacitor banks including a first capacitor bank and a second capacitor bank, the first capacitor bank being configured to connect to the distribution feeder when a first voltage is below a first lower threshold value and to disconnect from the distribution feeder when the first voltage is above a first upper threshold value, the first upper threshold and first lower threshold being determined based on an operational set point;

a sensor configured to measure the first voltage; and

a controller in operable communication with the plurality of capacitor banks configured to determine the operational state of the first and second capacitor banks and, based on the first voltage, send a first instruction to the first capacitor bank, the first instruction causing the capacitor bank to vary the operational set point.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the first capacitor bank should be connected to or disconnected from the distribution feeder based on a determination that an operational state of the first capacitor bank is connected and a determination that disconnecting the first capacitor bank will flatten a voltage profile of the distribution feeder.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to send the first instruction such that it causes first the capacitor bank to increase the operational set point.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the first capacitor bank should be connected to or disconnected from the distribution feeder based on a determination that an operational state of the first capacitor bank is disconnected and a determination that connecting the first capacitor bank will flatten a voltage profile of the distribution feeder.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the controller is configured to send the first instruction such that it causes first the capacitor bank to decrease the operational set point.