A New vision of PQ research for the next 10 years

The Electric Power Research Institute has created a detailed vision for power quality research for the next 10 years. The EPRI PQ MasterPlan document defines not only specific needs and objectives of PQ research for the next 10-20 years, but also presents a renewed and vigorous vision for the role that PQ can and should play in enhancing the economic performance of modern electric power suppliers, manufacturers, and other key industry partners.

I. Introduction

Some twenty years ago, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) initiated what was then a virtually unheard of field of study - a focused research effort to better define, understand, and improve the quality of electric power supply. This new field of “Power Quality” (PQ) focused initially on defining what PQ was and how to measure it. In the subsequent two decades, EPRI-lead research has allowed an evolution and revolution of the PQ field so that it is now widely considered to be an essential core competency for all electric power suppliers. Furthermore, PQ has evolved from being a back-office function to a front-and-center function that is often on the leading edge of utility-customer relations and satisfaction, and a core component of any electric utility's effort to improve overall performance.