Optimal Power Flow (OPF) is one of the main functions of Power Generation Operation and Control. It determines the optimal settings of generating units, bus voltage, transformer tap and shunt elements in Power System with the objective of minimizing total production costs or losses while the system is operating within its security limits. The aim of this paper is to propose a methodology (ABCA-mGA) that solves OPF including active power dispatches. It is based on combining the Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm (ABCA) to obtain a near global solution, and the microgenetic algorithm (mGA) to determine the optimal global solution with great precision.

Keywords: Optimal power flow(OPF), Artificial bee colony algorithm (ABCA), micro genetic algorithm(mGA).