Smard Grid Software Applications for Distribution Network Load Forecasting

This paper describes three software applications for distribution network load forecasting in a Smart Grid environment: (i) short-term feeder load forecasting, (ii) shortterm substation transformer load forecasting and transformer rating, and (iii) next-year load pocket forecasting. The shortterm feeder load forecasting allows a utility to reduce the possibility of feeder overloading. The substation transformer load forecasting and transformer rating application achieves similar goals at the distribution substation level. The load pocket forecasting software allows a utility to estimate load trends at different locations (called load pockets), to estimate next-year peaks, to calculate weather normalized factors, and to estimate the probability distribution of the next-year peak load. The use of these software applications significantly improved the efficiency and reliability of the distribution network.