IEEE trial-use standard 1459-2000, definitions for the measurement of electric power quantities under sinusoidal, nonsinusoidal, balanced, or unbalanced conditions

The definitions for active, reactive, and apparent powers that are currently used are based on the knowledge developed and agreed upon during the 1940s. Such definitions served the industry well, as long as the current and voltage waveforms remained nearly sinusoidal. Important changes have occurred in the last 50 years. New definitions in the Trial-Use Standard were developed to give guidance with respect to the quantities that should be measured or monitored for revenue purposes, engineering economic decisions, and determination of major harmonic polluters. The panel will discuss these issues.