Power quality

In the EN standards, power quality is defined through the

characteristics of the supply voltage. Transients, short-duration

and long-duration voltage variations and unbalance and

waveform distortions are the key characteristics describing

power quality. The distortion monitoring functions are used for

monitoring the current total demand distortion and the voltage

total harmonic distortion.

Power quality monitoring is an essential service that utilities can

provide for their industrial and key customers. A monitoring

system can provide information about system disturbances and

their possible causes. It can also detect problem conditions

throughout the system before they cause customer complaints,

equipment malfunctions and even equipment damage or

failure. Power quality problems are not limited to the utility side

of the system. In fact, the majority of power quality problems

are localized within customer facilities. Thus, power quality

monitoring is not only an effective customer service strategy but

also a way to protect a utility’s reputation for quality power and

service.