Utilizing a smart grid monitoring system to improve voltage quality of customers

Abstract—The implementation of smart grids will fundamen-tally change the approach of assessing and mitigating system voltage deficiencies on an electric distribution system. Many distribution companies have historically identified customer level voltage deficiencies utilizing a reactive approach that relies upon customer complaints. The monitoring capabilities of a smart grid will allow utilities to proactively identify events that exceed the voltage threshold limitations set forth by ANSI Std. C84.1 before they become a concern to end-users. This proactive approach can reduce customer complaints and possibly operational costs. This paper describes an approach for determining voltage threshold limits as a function of duration for proactive voltage investigations utilizing smart grid monitoring equipment. The described ap-proach was applied to a smart grid located in Boulder, Colorado. This paper also describes the results of this two-year study. Index Terms—Customer complaints, operational costs, power quality, smart grid, smart meter, voltage quality. I