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To meet the future power demand, distribution systems (DSs) need to be optimally planned. In this paper, an optimal expansion planning approach of DS is suggested. The capability of the existing DS is evaluated and load forecasting for next ten years is performed. Further, the load flow analysis by using backward-forward sweep algorithm is performed. Results show that existing networks would not be able to meet the future demand and due to this, voltage drop (VD) and power losses might be increased. Therefore, DS expansion planning is carried out considering future demand growth and distributed generation (DG) placement using grid dependent multi-objective harmony search algorithm (GrMHSA). The implementation of GrMHSA optimization technique reduces the total losses as well as VD for the targeted year. A practical Debre Markos (D/M) distribution network of Ethiopia is used for illustrating the superiority of the proposed technique and verifies its effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]