Case study of radial overhead feeder performance at 12.5 kV and 34.5 KV

The authors compared the economic and electrical performance factors on one specific overhead radial distribution feeder that is in operation at 12.5 kV, but whose present load and growth require that it be upgraded. They examined the economics and electrical performance of several feeder upgrading options for a particular feeder on the Green Mountain Power system with respect to: feeder losses, feeder voltage regulation, capital costs and cost of losses, and voltage dips on the local 115-kV transmission system caused by feeder faults. The performance of four feeder configuration options is assessed. It is shown that there is no clear economic advantage to 34.5 kV and that there may be a disadvantage with respect to voltage dip performance.