Integration of renewable power generating technologies with integrated volt/var control systems

A distribution management system (DMS) (12) includes an integrated volt/var controller (IVVC) (14) that is configured to control operation of at least one corresponding renewable energy source (56), (58) or energy storage device (60), (62), (64) power converter in response to IVVC commands generated via algorithmic optimization software integrated within the IVVC (14). At least one renewable energy source (56), (58) or energy storage device (60), (62), (64) is controlled to operate alone or in coordination with one or more discrete step size reactive power (VAR) compensation devices (22) to generate continuously varying reactive power required by a corresponding power distribution system (50).