This paper presents a genetic algorithm (GA) to seek optimal placement of a FACTS device - thyristor controlled series compensator (TCSC). The optimization is done on two parameters, optimal location and optimal value of compensation. The total transfer capability (TTC) is applied as a measure of power system performance. The TTC is calculated using conventional repetitive power flow (RPF) method. TTC can be considered as the maximum power that a source and a sink can interchange subject to system operation constraints. Here TTC is calculated for the base case when TCSC is not installed, and again when TCSC is placed on a particular location in the test system. It is investigated that TCSC increases the TTC when placed on a specific location. The results obtained by GA are found to be satisfactory and comparable with the results of RPF method.