Optimization Strategy for an Outage Sequence in Medium- and Low-Voltage Distribution Networks Considering the Importance of Users

With the rapid development of distribution networks and increasing demand for electricity, the pressure of power supply for medium- and low-voltage distribution networks (M&LVDNs) is increasingly significant, especially considering the large scale of customers at the low-voltage (LV) level. In this paper, an outage sequence optimization method for low-voltage distribution networks (LVDNs) that considers the importance of users is proposed. The method aims to develop an optimal outage sequence strategy for LV customers in case of medium-voltage (MV) failure events. First, a multi-dimensional importance indicator system for LV users is constructed, and the customers are ranked using a modified Analytic Hierarchy Process–Entropy Weight (AHP-EW) method to determine their priorities during outages. Then, an elastic net regression-based method is used to identify the topology of the LV network. Finally, an outage sequence optimization model based on the user importance is proposed to reduce the load-shedding level. Extensive case studies are conducted in the modified LV distribution network. The results show that the proposed method results in fewer outage losses throughout the restoration periods than traditional methods and effectively improves the reliability of the power supply to LV users.