Power flow (PF) is the most extensively used analytical tool in any power industry. Starting from planning studies, PF is required in operation & control studies. PF, therefore, has rightly been termed as the workhorse of the power systems (PS). The advent of deregulation & competitive power markets has increased more uncertainty in PS. Under the stressed situations, the conventional methods (CMs) diverge & no solution is obtained for ill-conditioned systems. The CMs need flat start & also unable to provide multiple solutions. To overcome these, non-conventional approaches are required to...