Category Archives: Power Quality Monitoring

Power Quality Monitoring is concerned with issues such as detecting phase imbalances and particularly whether all phasors have the same magnitude and are phase-shifted symmetrically by 120-degrees to each other.

The Challenges in Managing South Africa’s Electricity Sector

Managing South Africa’s electricity sector has become a balancing act between aging infrastructure, financial instability, and growing demand. Persistent load shedding, regulatory inefficiencies, and misaligned investment strategies continue to undermine progress. Without decisive reforms that prioritize governance, sustainability, and innovation, the sector risks deepening the energy crisis and stalling economic growth. The challenge is clear: transform the system or face escalating instability.

Understanding Power Quality: Why It Matters for Your Bottom Line

Power quality directly impacts your bottom line—poor quality erodes equipment, drives up maintenance costs, and disrupts operations. High-quality power, on the other hand, ensures efficiency, reliability, and longer asset lifecycles. By investing in monitoring and proactive management, businesses can reduce hidden losses, improve productivity, and secure a competitive edge in today’s energy-intensive economy.

Understanding Power Quality and Unbalanced Power Networks

Unbalanced power networks are more than a technical nuisance—they erode efficiency, shorten equipment lifespans, and inflate operating costs. Understanding power quality is essential for identifying hidden risks such as voltage fluctuations, harmonics, and load imbalances. By prioritizing monitoring and corrective strategies, organizations can improve reliability, reduce downtime, and ensure that their energy systems support both sustainability and long-term profitability.

How do Power Quality Affect Client’s Billing

Power quality has a direct influence on client billing—hidden inefficiencies, voltage fluctuations, and unbalanced loads can inflate costs without delivering real value. Poor quality not only damages equipment but also distorts consumption patterns, leading to inaccurate charges and higher operational expenses. By improving monitoring and corrective measures, utilities can ensure fair billing, reduce unnecessary losses, and strengthen trust with their clients.

Contravention of Fiduciary Duties

On the 2nd of October 2023, I published an article with the heading “Phase Imbalance in Distribution Networks” in which I stated that “In a recent unrelated “survey”, I came across a 10-minute averaged voltage unbalance of 327% between Phase 2 and Phase 1”. I also asked the question: is Eskom aware what is happening […]