Distributed generation (DG) is attracting much interest as a means to more economically achieve additional capacity. Traditional distribution planning methods are often inadequate for determining if and when it is economical to consider DG options instead of the more familiar substation and feeder upgrades. New planning methods and computer tools are needed to help the planner better understand the true economic impact of each alternative. This paper describes a methodology for performing distribution planning that also permits the incorporation of such diverse means of improving the capacity and reliability of the system as DG, distribution automation (DA), and demand-side management (DSM).