Power quality refers to the degree to which the electrical power supplied by the utility meets the requirements of the end users. In other words, power quality measures how well the electrical power supplied by the utility matches the needs of the equipment and devices that use it.
Power quality is important because poor power quality can lead to problems such as equipment failure, production downtime, and reduced equipment lifespan. Power quality problems can result from various factors, such as voltage fluctuations, power interruptions, harmonics, and electromagnetic interference.
To ensure good power quality, electric utilities typically monitor and control the voltage and frequency of the power supply, as well as the level of harmonic distortion. To improve power quality, they may also provide power conditioning equipment such as voltage regulators, surge protectors, and power factor correction devices.
In addition to the utilities, end-users can improve power quality by using equipment designed to tolerate or mitigate power quality problems, such as uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), voltage stabilizers, and harmonic filters.