Load frequency control (LFC) is one of the most important tools in power system control. LFC is an auxiliary service related to the short-term balance of energy and frequency of power systems. As such, it allows the acquisition of a central role in enabling electricity exchanges and providing better conditions. The classification of LFC can be carried out from different angles: we can enumerate, among others, the type of control used. The following types of control are presented in this review: classical, optimal, and robust control. More advanced controls can also be used for classification: fuzzy logic control, ANN control, genetic algorithms, PSO control, etc. The influence of renewables and power control tools like FACTS is also considered as a category to be analyzed. The last classifications are related to two important subjects—the influence of DC links on LFC efficiency and the dangers of cyberattacks on the LFC.

This paper introduces a Fuzzy Logic Controller designed for an on-load tap changer within medium voltage distribution systems with bulk penetration of Distributed Energy Resources. As the on-load tap changer remains one of the most essential forms of voltage regulation in medium voltage distribution networks, improving its operation is a cost-effective response to the emerging voltage violations caused by intermittent generation during the early stages of the energy system transformation. Software-in-the-loop simulations were conducted to validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm compared to the conventional methods. A modified CIGRE Medium Voltage Distribution Network Benchmark in European Configuration was modelled while the controller code developed in Python 3.12 was running on a PC, both coupled in a real-time closed-loop environment. The analyses showed that the proposed algorithm managed to reduce overvoltage from 7.02% to 4.85% in the benchmark network, thus demonstrating that the algorithm is efficient and ready for on-field implementation.