Quality of power contracts

Electrical power sales represent an estimated T$ 900 worldwide market that has no final test on the product delivered to customer. This paper will discuss the various parameters and characteristics that make up the quality and reliability of electrical power. Many utilities in Asia are struggling with the impact of power quality on supporting sensitive customers and attaching new sensitive customers. They are also struggling with the financial impact on the customer, the business and political impact on the utility. No single International standard covers all aspects of Power Quality and reliability. There are 6 main characteristics of quality of the electrical power as delivered to the customer and each has a unique characteristic. These characteristics include voltage stability, voltage sags and surges, voltage and current harmonics, flicker, interruptions, and voltage transients. These parameters will be reviewed from the perspective of the customer and utility technical requirements and economic considerations. Some examples of quality of power contracts will be reviewed. Most utilities worldwide have regulations and limits on load generated harmonics and flicker. Few have regulations on the acceptable level of voltage sags and micro-outages.