Quality in power system

Summary form only given as follows. In spite of all the developments and the comforts that electricity has brought to mankind, today the electric industry is facing tremendous challenges. In some countries it is the challenge of galloping load growth, in some countries it is the challenge of de-regulation and competitive market and more particularly of reducing cost while maintaining reliability and quality. The electric industry is a multi billion dollar business, and millions of dollars are spent every year on the research and development to improve the efficiency and the quality of the power system. But experience specially in the Third world countries is showing that the supplies are often haphazard and unreliable, power cuts are common. Voltage surges, low frequency, harmonics and other power quality problems damage consumers equipments. Electric utilities provide services poised to correct any interruption originating from weather or equipment. What were considered minor variations in power supply usually unnoticed in the operation of conventional equipment such as lights and small motors may now bring a whole factory and office complex to a standstill. The cost of such interference can be substantial. Managers and engineers are not only looking for the best equipment but for best operating system to supply electric power in an economical and reliable way to their consumers. In this article the concept of quality management and its application in the improvement in electric power system has been discussed.