Measuring the Electric Grid

Mysteries Explained

Everything we know about the power system, whether for control, or planning, or billing, is the result of a measurement, so the measurements ought to be good. The authors of Measuring the Electric Grid: Mysteries Explained pull no punches in showing how bad todays measurements are, and how to make them better.

Misunderstandings about important power system quantities, especially reactive power, apparent power, and phasors, are pervasive. The first four chapters provide foundational information about measurement generally not taught to power engineers. Although power engineers expect their measurements to be scientific, these chapters explain why some of the most critical power system measurements are distinctly non-scientific and not fit for purpose. In the next four chapters, the most important and most misunderstood measurements are scrutinized more closely. Particular attention is paid to reacti