How to conciliate demand side management and electromagnetic compatibility?

Since 1993, the French National Electricity Utility, Electricite de France (EDF), and the French Environment and Energy Agency (ADEME) have worked together for the promotion of energy saving on electricity use, for better satisfaction of customers and a global national interest. These demand side management programs, especially on their customers service approach have been already discussed in several papers, and are focused as follow: lighting; domestic appliances; buildings; industry, especially with variable speed drive for electric motor; and, isolated areas. Drives and particular lights absorb currents with high harmonics content, which in some cases can cause problems on the customers plant itself, and which can also pollute neighbouring plants. Furthermore, EDF has engagement on the quality of the voltage delivered to its customers, and therefore needs to control the harmonics level in its distribution networks. Efforts have been developed to conciliate this problem of electromagnetic network compatibility and with the wish of EDF to go through DSM programs. These aspects are developed in the paper.