Optimizing Sustainability and Cost Efficiency in Distribution Network Through Optimal Switching

Due to increased demand and the deregulation of power networks, utilities must continue to provide stable, high-quality services in order to maintain operations and reduce electricity rates. This paper presents a novel approach to enhancing sustainability and cost efficiency in distribution networks by optimizing the switching configuration using Mixed Integer Second Order Cone Programming (MISOCP) with tie switching. The study focuses on minimizing power losses and voltage fluctuations, which are critical challenges in maintaining efficient and reliable operation of distribution systems. The proposed method is applied to the IEEE 33-bus and 69-bus systems, demonstrating significant improvements in network performance. By strategically optimizing the tie switches, the method achieves a reduction in power losses by 36.66% for the IEEE 33-bus system and 25.5% for the 69-bus system compared to their initial configurations. These improvements directly contribute to lowering electricity rates and enhancing the overall operational sustainability of the distribution network. The results show that MISOCP is an effective and robust optimization tool for addressing the complexities of distribution network reconfiguration, leading to improved energy efficiency and reduced operational costs.