Impact of Smart Grid on distribution system design

There has been much recent discussion on what distribution systems can and should look like in the future. Terms related to this discussion include smart grid, distribution system of the future, and others. Functionally, a smart grid should be able to provide new abilities such as self-healing, high reliability, energy management, and real-time pricing. From a design perspective, a smart grid will likely incorporate new technologies such as advanced metering, automation, communication, distributed generation, and distributed storage. This paper discussed the potential impact that issues related to smart grid will have on distribution system design.