A recent study by the Electric Power Research Institute, a consortium supported by utility companies, estimated that power failures cost the United States economy $104 billion a year and that power quality problems such as spikes, surges and drops cost an additional $15 billion. Expenditures to address these problems each year run into the billions of dollars.
When power quality problems are suspected in a facility, a number of systematic and cost-effective steps should be taken to resolve the problems including:
Make an inventory of all equipment in the facility, noting all equipment vulnerable to a disturbance.
Create a disturbance log and enter the symptoms experienced.
Inspect wiring and grounding by checking for loose connections, defective breakers or fuses, and short circuits.
Perform measuring and monitoring of the circuit voltage and if necessary, record voltages using a line disturbance analyzer.
Analyze and evaluate all of the information.
Resolve the problem by implementing appropriate solutions.