Electric power for the digital age

The digital revolution of the past few decades has increased demand for electric power with higher reliability and quality than is typically delivered via the conventional centralized power system. As modern economies move into the 21/sup st/ century, the requirement for high security, quality, reliability, and availability (SQRA) of an electric power supply will increase as more manufacturing processes and service industries become dependent on digital devices. Even residential customers are becoming increasingly digital-based as more homes use microprocessor-controlled appliances and digital entertainment systems. Furthermore, the increasing use of the home-office is blurring the distinction between commercial and residential power users. Overall, in the future, all power users, whether commercial, industrial, or residential, are expected to demand more reliability from the electric power delivery system than ever before.