Method and apparatus for identifying proper regulation method based on average voltage change between tap steps for voltage regulators

A method for controlling a voltage regulator of a power distribution system, the method comprising:

• in response to a condition being satisfied
• determining whether an average of a first voltage change of a current tap operation and a second voltage change of a preceding tap operation satisfies a voltage threshold,
• changing a regulation direction of the voltage regulator when the average satisfies the voltage threshold, and
• maintaining the regulation direction of the voltage regulator when the average does not satisfy the voltage threshold;
• and
• providing regulation settings to the voltage regulator corresponding to a current regulation mode and the regulation direction of the voltage regulator.

A voltage regulator controller for controlling a voltage regulator of a power distribution system, the voltage regulator controller comprising:

• an electronic processor configured to
• in response to a first tap step index of a current tap operation being different from a second tap step index of a preceding tap operation
• determine whether an average of a first voltage change of the current tap operation and a second voltage change of the preceding tap operation satisfies a voltage threshold,
• change a regulation direction of the voltage regulator when the average satisfies the voltage threshold, and
• maintain the regulation direction of the voltage regulator when the average does not satisfy the voltage threshold.