Patent ID: 8731728

Claim:
A power distribution system, comprising: a feeder; at least one capacitor bank selectively connected to the feeder and a capacitor bank controller, the capacitor bank controller controlling a switch for selectively connecting the at least one capacitor bank to the feeder; a transformer for delivering power to the power distribution system through the feeder, the transformer converting one of a transmission and a sub-transmission voltage into a distribution voltage; at least one voltage regulating device connected to a voltage regulating device controller; and a controller in communication with the capacitor bank controller, the at least one voltage regulating device controller and the transformer, the controller selectively switching the at least one capacitor bank to adjust voltage on the feeder, the controller selectively controlling a source voltage through the at least one voltage regulating device, the controller including: a control logic for receiving a plurality of variables that determine an energy consumption of the power distribution system; a control logic for estimating a non-adjusted energy consumption of the power distribution system at a specified future date, the non-adjusted energy consumption based on the plurality of variables, without the controller selectively switching the at least one capacitor bank, and without the controller adjusting the at least one voltage regulating device; a control logic for estimating an adjusted energy consumption of the power distribution system at the specified future date, the adjusted energy consumption based on the plurality of variables, with the controller selectively switching the at least one capacitor bank, and with the controller adjusting the at least one voltage regulating device; a control logic for determining the difference between the adjusted energy consumption and the non-adjusted energy consumption; and a control logic for sending a signal to the capacitor bank controller indicating if the controller will switch the at least one capacitor bank and the voltage regulating device controller to adjust the at least one voltage regulating device, the signal being sent at the specified future date.