Systematic voltage surveys — Procedure and application to distribution design

WITH the development of systems of distribution supplying light, heat, and power from common mains, the problem of maintaining proper voltage at consumers´ services has become extremely difficult. The efforts of distribution engineers in solving system voltage regulation problems have extended in many directions. To facilitate these solutions, a need has been felt by many distribution engineers for some means of clarifying the approach to the voltage-regulation problem. The systematic voltage survey, by presenting a comprehensive view of service voltage conditions, has been found, by utilities which make such surveys periodically, to serve this purpose effectively. This paper presents a procedure for conducting systematic voltage surveys, based on the practice of various electric utilities, and a brief discussion of the application of voltage-survey data.