Power Quality

Most energy strategies focus on how much power is used.

But the quality of that power can have just as much impact on performance, reliability and cost.

Issues like harmonics, voltage fluctuations, transients and load imbalance can quietly affect systems across an estate, often without being detected until something fails.

What is Power Quality?

Power quality refers to how stable and consistent the electrical supply is.

It’s not just about having power, it’s about having the right voltage levels, a stable frequency and the correct waveform distortion for equipment to operate efficiently and reliably.

When power quality is poor, these characteristics deviate, impacting performance, operational efficiency and asset lifespan.

Why It Matters

Poor power quality can have a direct impact on operations.

It can lead to:

Reduced operational efficiency
Increased energy losses
Equipment malfunction
Shortened asset lifespan

And across an estate, these effects compound.

Common Power Quality Issues

Harmonics

These are waveform distortions at frequencies that are integer multiples of the fundamental frequency, commonly generated by non-linear loads such as variable frequency drives and computer power supplies.

If left unmanaged they cause overheating, increased energy losses and disruption to sensitive equipment.

Voltage Sags & Swells

These are short-term reductions or increases in voltage.

This can cause equipment malfunction, downtime and long-term damage.

Transients

These are brief spikes in voltage & current caused by switching or other external factors.

Can damage equipment, increase maintenance costs and disrupt operations.

Load Imbalance

This is when electrical loads are not evenly distributed across phases.

Leading to inefficiencies, overheating, voltage fluctuations and reduced system performance.

Power Factor

This is a measure of how efficiently power is used.

Poor power factor indicates inefficiency resulting in wasted energy and increases costs.

Why Monitoring is Critical

It is imperative to monitor Power Quality across the entire EPMS, from building point of entry down to individual payloads. Without visibility, Power Quality issues are difficult to identify and even harder to resolve.

Monitoring enables organisations to:

Detect issues in real time
Mitigate short & long term impacts like intermittent failures, equipment damage and reduction in operational life.
Identify trends and recurring problems
Diagnose root causes
Take targeted corrective action
Moving from reactive fixes to proactive management.