Abstract
Reactive power planning is an optimization problem. Solving this problem requires finding an optimal solution that minimizes an objective function while satisfying certain constraints. This paper proposes an approach for optimum reactive power dispatch throughout the power network, using the Genetic Algorithms (GA). Varying the crossover probability rate P-c and mutation probability rate P-m the GA's control parameters provide faster convergence than constant probability rates. The active power loss is minimized using six controlled system variables (generator voltages, transformer taps and shunt capacitors). The proposed method is applied to the practical Ward-Hale 6-bus system. The OPF is solved by a classical nonlinear optimization technique as well as the proposed linear adaptive genetic technique..