A regularized state estimation scheme for a robust monitoring of the distribution grid

•A regularized state estimation scheme for the distribution grid is presented. The algorithm operates at two different time scales.•For the main time instants the solution is based on the regularized normal equations. The scheme presents robustness against low measurement redundancy and the uncertainty of the available information.•For the intermediate time interval is formulated a decomposed weighted total variation estimation problem which accounts for the active elements across the feeders.•A μPMU placement method which improves the conditioning of the state estimator is also presented. The problem is posed as a mixed integer semidefinite programming model.•The performance of the proposed scheme has been elaborated extensively on the 95-bus distribution system for a number of realistic conditions of noise, load and PV generation profiles.