In this paper,first,high voltage distribution networks are classified according to their load and reactivepower characteristics,and different reactive power compensation configuration schemes are adopted for differentkinds of networks.Then,by taking the high voltage distribution networks with small hydropower as the research ob-jective,a model of reactive power planning considering the capacitive and inductive reactive power compensationconfigurations is proposed,which meets the demands of the reactive voltage control of high voltage distribution net-works with small hydropower.Moreover,an index by the name of the reactive power configuration ratio is put forwardto help select the reactive power compensation configuration for different types of substations,and the principles ofcapacitive and inductive reactive power compensation configurations are optimized and refined for the high voltage dis-tribution networks.Cases analysis shows that these principles help to improve the ability of the voltage control and re-active power balance during the reactive power configuration,reduce the network loss,and avoid excessive investmentof the capacitive reactive power compensation.In addition,with the help of the proposed method,the reactive powerconfiguration ratios of four kinds of high voltage distribution networks are obtained,which can be used as detailedprinciples of the reactive power compensation configuration for high voltage distribution networks.