  The increase in grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems has been consistent
over the years. Several studies have reported the impacts of this increase on
the distribution networks such as reverse power flow, voltage fluctuations,
possible increase in system losses amongst others. With this rise in PV
penetration level, it becomes necessary for grid tied smart inverters (SI) to
be allowed to participate in feeder voltage regulation. Till date, no
comprehensive technical review and analysis has been done on the impact and
interaction of existing and proposed SI settings on the existing legacy voltage
control devices. This paper presents a novel technical review and analysis of
some voltage regulation settings of SIs and their impacts on distribution
feeders including their interaction with legacy devices such as capacitors,
on/off Load Tap Changers, their impact on the feeder losses, harmonic effects
and economic impacts (expressed as the device cost factor) and circuit impact
index (CII). The analysis of these functionalities is done using the standard
IEEE 8500 distribution feeder, integrated with six PVs (based on real PV
parameters and data), and strategically located with actual irradiance and
temperature profile from a 1.4MW PV plant located at FIU. These PV locations
were carefully selected to allow for detailed impacts studies. The results show
how the various SI functions impact the reactive power injection and switching
of the capacitor banks, the voltage regulator switching, the losses in the
feeder, the harmonic and the CII. The Volt-Watt with rise/fall rate-ofchange
limiting setting showed the least impact in terms of the CII, voltage regulator
tapping and capacitor switching but with high amount of losses compared to
other SI functions.
