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Content

Economic Considerations for Power Quality Issues

⏱️ 17:08 🎤 Ellen Parson, Philip Keebler
AUDIO EPISODE
Economic Considerations for Power Quality Issues
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  • 0:00
    Welcome and Guest Introduction
    Ellen Parson introduces Philip Kibler, a technical advisor at PBE Engineers and an expert in power quality, to discuss economic considerations for power quality issues.
  • 1:17
    Kibler's Background in PQ
    Philip Kibler shares his accidental entry into the power quality industry in 1991, spurred by widespread warranty problems caused by lightning, and highlights its broad impact across various sectors.
  • 4:28
    Common PQ Culprits & Costs
    Kibler identifies production downtime as the leading cause of financial heartache for plant managers, citing an example where a single production line's downtime cost $17,000 per minute.
  • 7:56
    Documenting Financial Impact
    Kibler explains that accurately determining the financial impact of power quality issues is challenging because businesses often fail to document all associated costs, leading to significant unforeseen losses.
  • 11:08
    The UISP Strategy Explained
    Philip Kibler details his UISP (Understanding, Identifying, Solving, Preventing) strategy for addressing power quality problems, emphasizing education and cost-effective solutions.
  • 17:50
    Total Financial Cost (TFC)
    Kibler discusses the Total Financial Cost (TFC) of power quality problems, highlighting how loss of revenue and neglected maintenance significantly impact a business's bottom line.
  • 20:15
    PQ Economics Calculator
    Kibler explains that a PQ Economics Calculator helps businesses understand associated costs by factoring in elements like lost revenue from unfulfilled orders and labor expenses during downtime.
  • 21:29
    Recurring PQ Problems
    Kibler notes that many power quality issues are recurring, leading to increasing frustration and financial strain for businesses when equipment malfunctions prevent production.
  • 23:39
    Blame Game & System Limits
    Kibler addresses the common issue of blame-shifting among utilities, contractors, and building designers, acknowledging that fundamental power delivery concepts remain largely unchanged despite system improvements.

Speakers

E
Ellen Parson
Host — editor-in-chief of ECN
P
Philip Keebler
technical adviser to PBE Engineers

Key Takeaways

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Prioritize documentation of all costs related to power quality issues, including lost production, labor, and replacement parts, to accurately assess financial impact.

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Implement a proactive maintenance schedule for electrical systems to prevent common power quality problems that lead to costly downtime.

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Familiarize yourself with the UISP strategy (Understanding, Identifying, Solving, Preventing) to systematically address power quality issues in your operations.

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Recognize that power quality problems are often recurring; historical data can help predict and mitigate future incidents.

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Educate your team on the importance of power quality and integrate it as a line item in your budget, empowering them to recognize and address basic issues internally.

✦

When addressing power quality issues, consider solutions at various levels (service entrance, feeder, branch circuit, equipment) to find the most cost-effective and appropriate approach.

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