POWER QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN A REGULATED ENVIRONMENT: THE SOUTH AFRICAN EXPERIENCE

A comprehensive regulatory power quality standard (NRS 048) was introduced by the South African National Electricity Regulator (NER) in 1996 [2]. Adherence to the standard has since been specified as a basic licence condition for all distribution and transmission companies by the NER. The standard was revised in 2003, based on the experience gained since its introduction, and developments in IEC 61000-4-30, EN 50160, Cigré/CIRED JWG C4-07, and SEMI [4]. This paper discusses the impact that the standard has had on power quality management in South Africa, and in particular in the context of Eskom’s power quality management program introduced in the early 1990’s.