Providing an optimal demand response program through placement of automatic switches and energy storage systems to improve the reliability of power distribution networks.

Creating highly reliable distribution networks is becoming increasingly vital in today's society. In a similar vein, utilities have issues in properly planning and developing distribution networks, both to reduce their imposed costs and to meet the demands of their consumers. In the presence of Demand Response Program (DRP), this research provides a coordinated architecture that considers automated switches and Energy Storage Units (ESUs) placement with the uncertainty of repair time to enhance the reliability of power distribution network. The suggested objective for optimal placement of automatic switches, ESUs and DRPs is to minimize a combination of reliability index (SAIDI) and Total Cost of system (TC). Customer interruption cost, energy not supplied cost, automated switch investment, ESU investment, ESU participation cost, and DRP cost are all considered as parts of the total cost. The proposed method is used in four different cases on a common reliability test system, followed by numerous sensitivity studies, in order to illustrate applicability and efficiency of suggested method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]