diff --git a/install.py b/install.py
index 4fdbbdd4d..d976fff42 100644
--- a/install.py
+++ b/install.py
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 	os.system(f"{sys.executable} -m pip install --upgrade pip setuptools")
 	os.system(f"{sys.executable} -m pip install -r {source_dir}/requirements.txt")
 	os.system(f"{sys.executable} -m pip install -e {source_dir}")
-	os.system(f"{sys.executable} -m pip install -e git+https://github.com/lilycatolson/Protection-settings-optimizer.git#egg=RSO_pack")
 	os.system(f'sudo chmod 755 {source_dir}/omf/solvers/opendss/opendsscmd-1.7.4-linux-x64-installer.run && sudo {source_dir}/omf/solvers/opendss/opendsscmd-1.7.4-linux-x64-installer.run --mode unattended')
     # - If using Docker, this configuration should be done in the Dockerfile
 	print('*****\nRun $ export LC_ALL=C.UTF-8 $ if running phaseId._tests() gives an ascii decode error.\n*****')
@@ -43,7 +42,6 @@
 	os.system(f"{sys.executable} -m pip install -r {source_dir}/requirements.txt")
 	os.system(f"{sys.executable} -m pip install --ignore-installed six")
 	os.system(f"{sys.executable} -m pip install -e {source_dir}")
-	os.system(f"{sys.executable} -m pip install -e git+https://github.com/lilycatolson/Protection-settings-optimizer.git#egg=RSO_pack")
 	os.system(f'sudo chmod 755 {source_dir}/omf/solvers/opendss/opendsscmd-1.7.4-linux-x64-installer.run && sudo {source_dir}/omf/solvers/opendss/opendsscmd-1.7.4-linux-x64-installer.run --mode unattended')
     # - If using Docker, this configuration should be done in the Dockerfile
 	print('*****\nRun $ export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$LD_LIBRARY_PATH:/usr/local/lib $ if opendsscmd gives a shared library error.\n*****')
@@ -55,7 +53,6 @@
 	os.system(f"{sys.executable} -m pip install --upgrade pip")
 	os.system(f"{sys.executable} -m pip install -r {source_dir}/requirements.txt")
 	os.system(f"{sys.executable} -m pip install -e {source_dir}")
-	os.system(f"{sys.executable} -m pip install -e git+https://github.com/lilycatolson/Protection-settings-optimizer.git#egg=RSO_pack")
 	os.system(f'{source_dir}\\omf\\solvers\\opendss\\opendsscmd-1.7.4-windows-installer.exe --mode unattended')
 elif major_platform == "Darwin": # MacOS
 	os.system("HOMEBREW_NO_AUTO_UPDATE=1 brew install ffmpeg mdbtools") # Set no-update to keep homebrew from blowing away python3.
@@ -74,7 +71,6 @@
 	''') # sed is to hack the build to work without user input.
 	os.system(f"{sys.executable} -m pip install -r {source_dir}/requirements.txt")
 	os.system(f"{sys.executable} -m pip install -e {source_dir}")
-	os.system(f"{sys.executable} -m pip install -e git+https://github.com/lilycatolson/Protection-settings-optimizer.git#egg=RSO_pack")
 	os.system(f'sudo hdiutil attach {source_dir}/omf/solvers/opendss/opendsscmd-1.7.4-osx-installer.dmg')
 	os.system('open /Volumes/OpenDSS/opendsscmd-1.7.4-osx-installer.app')
 	print('Please go to System Preferences to finish installing OpenDSS on Mac')
diff --git a/omf/solvers/__init__.py b/omf/solvers/__init__.py
index e17302679..dcaf42343 100644
--- a/omf/solvers/__init__.py
+++ b/omf/solvers/__init__.py
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
 from omf.solvers import mohca_cl
 from omf.solvers import sdsmc
 from omf.solvers import reopt_jl
-#from omf.solvers import protsetopt
+from omf.solvers import protsetopt
diff --git a/omf/solvers/protsetopt/__init__.py b/omf/solvers/protsetopt/__init__.py
index e0129c7b5..36796ce8b 100644
--- a/omf/solvers/protsetopt/__init__.py
+++ b/omf/solvers/protsetopt/__init__.py
@@ -1,12 +1,28 @@
-import os, json
+import os, sys, json, platform
 from dss import DSS as dssObj
 
+thisDir = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
+
+def install_pso(system : list = platform.system()):
+    ''' installs dependency for protsetopt'''
+    instantiated_path = os.path.normpath(os.path.join(thisDir,"instantiated.txt"))
+    if not os.path.isfile(instantiated_path):
+        os.system(f"{sys.executable} -m pip install -e git+https://github.com/lilycatolson/Protection-settings-optimizer.git#egg=RSO_pack")
+        if system == "Windows":
+            os.system(f'copy nul {instantiated_path}')
+        else:
+            os.system(f'touch "{instantiated_path}"')
+        print(f'protsetopt dependency installed - to reinstall remove file: {thisDir}/instantiated.txt')
+
 try:
     import RSO_pack
 except ImportError:
-    from . import RSO_pack 
-
-thisDir = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
+    print("protsetopt is not installed - installing now")
+    install_pso()
+    try:
+        import RSO_pack
+    except ImportError:
+        from . import RSO_pack 
 
 # helper functions: modified from ProtectionSettingsOptimizer OpenDSS example 
 
@@ -67,6 +83,8 @@ def writeSettingsAndInfo(testPath, settings, old_info):
 
 def run(testPath, testFile):
     ''' runs setting optimization on the given opendss file, given constant program setting inputs '''
+    install_pso()
+
     #fault resistances to test
     Fres = ['0.001','1']
     #supported fault types