I n trod uct ionDistributed Generation (DG) is predicted to play an increasing role in the electric power system of the near fiture. Distributed generation is by definition that which is of limited size (roughly 10 MW or less) and interconnected at the substation, distribution feeder or customer load levels. DG technologies include photovoltaics, wind turbines, fuel cells, small 8z micro sized turbine packages, stirling-engine based generators, and intemal combustion engine-generators. These technologies are entering a period of rapid expansion and commercialization. For example, commercial-grade residential-scale fuel cells will arrive within the next 2 or 3 years with expectations of millions of installed units within the next 10 years.Photovoltaic programs are aggressively growing with plans to have nearly one million rooftops equipped with PV within a decade. Wind farms are springing up worldwide with more than 3000 MW of new wind capacity to be installed in the year 2000 alone. Even conventional internal combustion engine-generator and small gas turbine installations are increasing as commercialhdustrial electricity users install them for reliability and peak shaving applications. In fact, studies have predicted that distributed generation may account for up to 20% of all new generation going online by the year 2010. With so much new distributed generation being installed, it is critical that the power system impacts be assessed accurately so that these DG units can be applied in a manner that avoids causing degradation of power quality, reliability, and control of the utility system. This paper is the first in a two part series reviewing some of the concerns of DG application and methodologies for assessing the system impacts. This first paper focuses primarily on radial distribution systems while the second paper focuses on low voltage distribution networks and dynamic stability issues.

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