This paper presents a comprehensive review of the distribution static compensator employed for harmonic filtering, power factor correction, neutral current compensation, and load balancing in the distribution network. The intention of this review is to provide a wide spectrum on architecture, topologies, and control techniques to the researchers, designers, and engineers working on power quality improvement. More than 100 research publications on the topologies, configuration, control techniques, and applications of distribution static compensator have been thoroughly reviewed and classified for quick reference. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.