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This article presents a hybrid of two metaheuristic techniques, namely the plant growth simulation (PGS) algorithm and particle swarm optimization (PSO), for power loss minimization in a radial distribution network (RDN). The PSO algorithm determines the optimal allocation of multiple distributed generators (DGs), followed by the PGS algorithm for optimal network reconfiguration (NR). Type I and IV DGs were considered. The load flow solutions were obtained using a branch matrix formulation. IEEE 33 and 69 buses were used for performance analysis and the results were compared with previously published results to validate the method in providing solutions even in complex system configurations. The superior results demonstrate that the penetration of multiple DGs along with the NR permits the network to operate successfully under different loading conditions, without violating the constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]