In a region experiencing low voltage, what action can a System Operator take to increase the voltage?

To address low voltage situations, a System Operator can effectively increase voltage by decreasing real power demand and increasing reactive power. When real power consumption is reduced, it leads to less overall load on the system, consequently allowing the voltage levels to stabilize or rise.

Increasing reactive power is particularly vital because reactive power helps support the voltage levels throughout the transmission system. By injecting reactive power, typically through devices like capacitor banks or synchronous condensers, the operator can compensate for voltage drops that often accompany high real power demands, especially during peak loads.

This approach is aligned with the principles of power system operations, where managing reactive power is crucial for maintaining system reliability and voltage stability. Consequently, this makes the action of decreasing real power and increasing reactive power an effective method for addressing low voltage conditions.