An evaluation of non-sinusoidal tariff schemes towards a regulatory tariff system for non-sinusoidal power system conditions

Harmonic distortion on the power system is a modern concern due to the technological advances in silicon technology and it presents an increased non-linear loading of the power system. The effects of harmonics are well known: customers could experience major production losses due to the loss of supply, for example; on the other hand, harmonic load currents cause the utility to supply a higher real energy input then the actual real power needed to maintain a plant's production at a certain level. The utility carries the extra transmission I² R losses due to the harmonic currents. Consequently, the installed power system capacity is higher then required for a comparable linear load. Traditional energy rates do not take into account these extra costs. A tariff system may be one solution to regulate the total harmonic pollution in a power system. Different tariff strategies are evaluated and it is shown that they can allocate the increased costs more fairly than current rate structures