Probing power quality data

A power quality problem can best be described as any variation in the electric power service resulting in misoperation or failure of end-use equipment. As customers seek to increase utilisation and efficiency, utilities strive to better understand power quality events and their effects on these customers. Utilities are creating special programs and organisations to deal with customer power quality needs. A problem shared by both parties is the need for improved methods in the collection, analysis, and reporting of very large amounts of measured power quality data. This article presents one method currently being used to characterise power quality levels on distribution systems throughout the United States. The method utilises a number of software systems, one of which is the data management and analysis program described in the article.<
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