Voltage Regulation & Power Quality Track - Beckwith Protection & Control Seminar 2026

The Voltage Regulation & Power Quality Track will explore both theoretical and practical aspects of integrating Volt/VAr management strategies that align with grid modernization goals, focusing on asset management and reliability in the distribution system. The sessions will cover a range of topics including solutions for power quality issues such as sags, swells, CBEMA, and harmonics, along with transformer and regulator control applications, and the protection of distributed intertie and renewable energy sources. Additional discussions will address system performance improvements through auto-adaptive techniques, VAr biasing, line drop compensation, voltage profile flattening, conservation voltage control, paralleling, SCADA heartbeat integrity checks, and automatic switching during communication failures.

Volt/VAR Control

Historically, feeder circuits have been configured as radial feeds, with voltage levels starting high at the substation and decreasing towards the end of the circuit. This design strategy places the highest voltage near the heaviest loads, enhancing utility profitability. However, in the current landscape, this configuration significantly restricts both Conservation Voltage Reduction and the capacity for solar integration. To fully leverage these technologies, it is necessary to invert this setup, initiating with lower voltages at the substation and increasing towards the circuit's end.

"Flipping the Circuit" is a presentation that initially addresses the necessity of this inversion, followed by detailed strategies on how to implement it. It presents how to optimize the use of existing infrastructure while incorporating advanced functionalities into the new distribution grid. It also covers engineering the circuit for primary radial applications that can connect to other circuits through normally open points.

The reconfiguration of feeder circuits affects the operation of switched capacitor banks and line regulators, potentially leading to voltage violations. The presentations further explore how the integration of renewables into the distribution feeder influences voltage levels and the functioning of voltage regulators and switched capacitor banks. Lastly, the series discusses the shift away from routine maintenance towards predictive maintenance strategies, which help mitigate the risks of equipment failure that could result in outages and fires.

Voltage Drop and Regulation Equipment - Explores why voltage regulation is necessary, the standards utilities must adhere to, and the equipment used (LTCs, regulators, and capacitor banks) to manage voltage.
Theory of Voltage Regulation Coordination
LTCs, Regulators, and Controls – Managing voltage including control functionality and settings
Capacitor Banks and Controls - Discusses the operation of fixed and switchable capacitor banks, control strategies (voltage, Var, Time-of-Day, temperature), and guidelines for sizing and placement
Impact of FLISR on Voltage Regulation - Examines how circuit reconfiguration affects voltage regulation in regulators and switched capacitor banks.
Impact of Distributed Generation on Voltage Regulation - Analyzes how renewable generation influences voltage regulation in regulators and switched capacitor banks.
Voltage Reduction Strategies - Explores emergency voltage reduction and conservation voltage reduction for lowering greenhouse gas emissions and peak system demands.
Advanced Coordination - Demonstrates advanced control features that facilitate circuit flipping without external communications or centralized VVO systems.
Power Quality - Focuses on the role of advanced metering in validating voltage reductions and identifying voltage violations.
Emerging Technologies in Voltage Regulation

Capacitor Bank & Regulator Controls

Capacitor Bank and Regulator Control Basics
Regulator Control Settings
Band Center
Bandwidth
Time Delay
Blocking
Line Drop Compensation (LDC)
When to use it
How it is impacted by solar and batteries
Capacitor Banks
Substation Switched
Fixed
Gang Operated or Independent
When to use voltage control versus VAR control
How to determine proper sizing of capacitor banks
Capacitor Bank Assemblies & Components
Standard and heavy duty cans
How to select the vacuum switches
Line post sensors and neutral sensor connections
How to set the neutral current to detect partial failures of capacitor cans
Voltage Regulation
How to coordinate regulators with upstream LTCs/regulators
How to coordinate regulators with switched capacitor banks
How to configure regulators and switched capacitor banks when solar or batteries are added to the circuit
How to configure regulators and capacitor banks when the circuit can be reconfigured.

Load Tap Changer (LTC) and Tap Position Monitoring

Learn more about the role controls play managing and monitoring Load Tap Changers (LTCs). Learn how to control their tap positions to regulate output voltage while actively tracking which tap position the LTC is currently on, allowing for efficient power distribution and preventative maintenance practices.

LTC Voltage Control
Reverse Power Operation
Reversible Radial Feed, DG Applications
Combo Feed/DG, Distribution Tie Transformers, Network Applications
Effects on Voltage Profiles
LTC Control Features & Applications Settings, Timing, Coordination Effects on Voltage Profiles