Expansion planning of electric power distribution systems under the paradigm of price cap regulation

This paper presents a GRASP (Greedy Randomized Adaptive Search Procedure) algorithm applied to resolution of expansion planning of electric power distribution systems (EPDS) under the paradigm of Price Cap regulation. The design of the expansion planning problem considering the tariff methodology becomes an important and challenging problem to be solved. In this sense, this paper presents the results of development of a methodology that considers the variables of Price Cap model along with the classic problem of expansion of electric power distribution systems. The proposed model is a problem of mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP), which is solved by employing the metaheuristic GRASP combined with a Constructive Heuristic Algorithm (CHA). Results of two distribution systems are demonstrated in order to analyze the algorithm development.