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Voltage rise caused by high levels of distributed generation is manifesting as voltage regulation challenges for many electricity network service providers. In this environment it would be ideal to reduce supply voltage magnitudes, however, many network operators are hesitant to do so due to concerns related to consumer appliance performance at reduced supply voltage magnitudes. Voltage regulation requirements are defined by network standards and network service providers must ensure voltages remain within specified limits. Through an evaluation of domestic appliance performance when supplied at various voltage magnitudes, this paper examines the impact of varying voltage levels on residential appliances. Equipment energy demand, operation and actuation were monitored for each applied voltage magnitude. While no equipment failures were recorded, appliance behaviour varied significantly with applied voltage magnitude. Individual appliance conservation voltage reduction (CVR) factors have also been established. The results highlight the importance of good voltage regulation and provide substantiated appliance performance figures for future studies. The outcomes of this paper allow electricity network service providers to understand the implications of supply voltage magnitude on domestic appliance performance, whether it be understating of the impact of higher voltage magnitudes caused by distributed generation or implications of reducing voltage magnitudes to provide headroom for distributed generation integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Voltage fluctuations caused by rapidly changing loads, such as arc furnaces, can propagate to different parts of a power system. Although the flicker level at its origin can be high, levels that are measured at other sites are subject to attenuation, a process that is influenced by fault levels, transformer impedances, line impedances, and composition of the connected loads. This paper presents the methodology, measurement results, and data analysis in relation to synchronized flicker measurements carried out in a high-voltage (HV)/medium-voltage (MV) power system which contains an arc furnace supplied by a dedicated feeder connected to the HV busbar. The flicker transfer coefficients derived from measurement results clearly indicate that flicker transfer from the arc furnace site to the upstream HV busbar is governed by the fault levels at the two locations. However, the transfer of flicker from the upstream HV busbar to other downstream busbars is dependent on the downstream load composition. These flicker transfer coefficients are vital in the application of methodologies described in many reports and standards in relation to establishing planning levels at various voltage levels and in the allocation of flicker emission to customers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]