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Calibration Services in Support of Smart Grid
Applications
R. Arseneau, Senior Member, IEEE, and E. So, Fellow, IEEE
Abstract—Deregulation of the electricity market in North
America has resulted in many new challenges for electrical
utilities, their regulators and the national laboratories that
provide calibration and traceability for their equipment. The
deregulated marketplace now allows small distributed generation
installations often connected in rural distribution networks
where power quality is more likely to be an issue. It is therefore
important to know what impact the increased level of harmonics
will have on measuring equipment, particularly equipment used
in revenue billing applications and for the safe operation and
control of the new "smarter" power grid. This paper discusses
some of the research and development initiatives undertaken at
the National Research Council of Canada to address the
changing test and calibration requirements of the electrical
power industry.
Index Terms—Smart grids, power quality, IEEE-1459-2000,
meters, phasor measuring unit, calibration, on-site testing.
I. INTRODUCTION
T he development of the power system is a world-wide
evolutionary process. At the beginning and for many
decades there were basically only small regional grids
where loads and generation capacity were more or less in
balance within a relatively restricted regional territory. There
was not much need for interconnections to the neighbouring
grids. Often everything within these regional grids, the
generating stations, the transmission and distribution networks
down to the meter at the customer entrance was owned by a
single organization which had full control without much need
to consider what happened outside of its territory.
Deregulation of the electricity market has changed all this.
Today most utilities have been restructured so that at least
generation, transmission and distribution are not controlled by
the same organization. There are opportunities for privately
owned large generating stations and for alternate energy
producers. All these changes have created a need for more
measuring points for billing and the introduction of new
equipment such as phasor measuring units (PMUs) and total
harmonic distortion (THD) meters in the new marketplace.
Over the past few years an increasing number of loads
operated by industrial, commercial and residential customers
are non-linear. Non-linear loads can be viewed as consuming
energy at the fundamental frequency and generating
The authors are with the Institute for National Measurement Standards,
National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A-0R6, Canada.
(e-mail: rejean.arseneau@nrc.ca, eddy.so@nrc.ca;)
978-1-4673-2729-9/12/$31.00 ©2012 IEEE
harmonics at other frequencies. This results in higher
harmonic distortion in the current waveforms and to a lesser
degree in the voltage waveforms. Harmonics can affect the
performance of metering equipment and therefore impact the
billing charges of the customers and the revenues paid to
private producers. Measurement problems due to harmonics
are more common in distribution networks where harmonic
levels are higher.
Revenue meters have traditionally been designed and tested
for sinusoidal operations only. They are however, increasingly
being operated in the field under waveform conditions, which
are not pure sinusoids. Under these conditions the measuring
method implemented in the conventional revenue meter is
critical. For example, distortion even if only in the current
waveforms can result in significantly different voltampere
demand and power factor charges depending on the type of
meters used [1].
The question of selecting the proper measuring strategy for
a location where harmonics are known to be present is a
difficult choice for metering engineers. The process is linked
to the parameters approved by the regulatory agency having
jurisdiction and / or the contractual agreement with the power
producer. In North America all quantities currently used such
as energy, demand and power factor all imply a nominal 60
Hz operation. Regulations are not in place that would allow a
utility to consider harmonics in its billing charges [2].
A simpler approach is to separate the main product, the
fundamental 60 Hz quantities, from the pollution that is the
unwanted non-fundamental components. This was the
underlying philosophy followed in the preparation of IEEE
Standard 1459-2000 [3]. This method provides for a
convenient measure of the traditional metering quantities
defined in the Standard as the fundamental apparent power S1,
the fundamental active power P1, the reactive power Q1 and
the fundamental power factor PF1. These quantities identify
the main product generated by the utility or a private
producer, transmitted, distributed and sold by the electric
utilities and bought and used by the customers. Fortunately
modern digital meters are available today that can measure the
required quantities even in non-sinusoidal conditions.
The paper investigates the performance of the widely used
conventional revenue meters in comparison with the emerging
generation of meters which are based on fundamental
measurements only. The paper will also discuss some of the
test and calibration requirements of new measuring equipment
particularly THD meters and PMUs.
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II. CALIBRATING REVENUE METERS AND PMUS To better understand the test results, a short review of
Today there are many types of revenue meters common equations is provided. The first set follows closely
implementing measuring equations that are not based on the equations of IEEE Standard 1459. The Standard provides
fundamental frequency billing as defined in 1459. In addition, for a convenient measure of the metering quantities defined
new instruments known as Phasor Measurement Units such as the fundamental active power P1, the fundamental
(PMUs) which also measures ac voltages, currents, phases and reactive power Q1, the fundamental apparent power S1 and the
adds a time stamp are increasingly being used in power fundamental power factor PF1. These quantities identify the
systems. It is important to review known harmonic situations useful product generated, transmitted, distributed and sold by
and evaluate how this measuring equipment would be the electric utilities and used by the customer. They are,
affected. For example could there be changes in billing
P1 = V1 x I1 Cos θ1 (1)
charges resulting from different metering strategies, if the
waveforms were not pure sinusoidals. Would PMUs still
Q1= V1 x I1 Sin θ1 (2)
provide the correct information regarding the stability of the
power systems being monitored? To investigate
S1= V1 x I1 (3)
this, field recordings shown in Fig. 1, of an industrial load
were reproduced on the National Research Council of Canada
PF1= P1 / S1 (4)
calibration system. Different types of revenue meters and a
new PMU were tested. The field data was collected on the
In older meters, measurements of the active power P and
secondary of the metering CT’s and PT’s, thus the recorded
reactive power Q are used. Active and reactive powers are the
signals are those that the revenue meters were subjected to at
sum of the fundamental and all the harmonic components.
the time of the test. The load consists of variable speed drive
pumps. The voltage waveform has a THD value of 15.5%.
P = P1 + PH (5)
The current waveform has a THD value of 47.0% and is
visibly different from a sinusoidal waveform. Q = Q1 + QH (6)

Active power is clearly defined and is usually measured

correctly even in previous generations of meters. The
harmonic components PH are included in the measurements of
traditional revenue meters even though this is unwanted by
customers. In most applications however harmonic power is
rather small and has little influence on billing charges.
Reactive power in older revenue meters is usually measured
as defined by Budeanu and includes all the harmonic
components of the reactive power. Other definitions have
been used, for example Fryze which defines all non-active
power as reactive power. Many meters also measured the
apparent power S. Two different methods are commonly used,

S= V x I (7)

S PQ = P 2 + Q 2 (8)

Power factor PF, the ratio of the measured power and

apparent power, is sometime used as an extra charge if it falls
below a predetermined value. The two methods of measuring
apparent power results in two power factors,

PF= P/S (9)

PF= P/ SPQ (10)

PMUs are relatively new and need to be studied to know

which equations are used and how they respond in non-
sinusoidal situations.

Fig. 1 Field recorded waveforms


Test results were obtained for one revenue meter with a
specified accuracy of 0.1% and a PMU whose accuracy is
0.025%. The results summarized in Table 1 are for the
waveforms of Fig.1. The fundamental quantities of the
waveforms as recommended in 1459 are also included in this
Table. As expected the power measurement results of the
meter and PMU are close to the fundamental active power P1.
There are larger differences for the measurements of reactive
power Q as compared to the fundamental reactive power Q1.
The differences are much more significant for the
measurements of apparent power S and power factor PF.
Clearly the meter and PMU are programmed to use different
equations as noted in (7) to (10).
TABLE I
RESULTS WITH THE WAVEFORMS OF FIG. 1
Quantity IEEE 1459 Meter PMU
Power 546.28 547.86 W 548.04 W
Reactive Power 0.59 11.15 Var 0.75 Var
Apparent Power 546.32 600.02 VA 548.03 VA
Power Factor 1.0 0.91 1.0
III. CALIBRATING THD METERS
In Canada electrical utilities and other organizations
providing calibration services use THD measuring devices to
verify the quality of the voltage and current waveforms
measured by revenue meters. These THD measurements are
not used directly to establish a billing charge and their
calibrations are not subjected to the same regulatory
requirements as those of revenue meters. However, many
NRC clients have added the THD measuring functions to their
normal calibration requests.
The THD measuring functions are usually tested under
distorted voltage and current waveforms of 1, 3 and 5 % THD.
The test waveforms consist of the fundamental component and
a single harmonic component either in phase or at 180 degrees
with respect to the fundamental. The frequency of the
harmonic component does not usually exceed 1500 Hz. The
non-sinusoidal test conditions are produced with a reference
source with independent voltage and current outputs. The test
waveforms are entered into the reference source as a set of
voltage and current amplitudes and phase angles. The NRC
reference system for verifying the THD measurements is
based on two precision sampling voltmeters, used as 18 bit
A/D converters [4]. Normally the current THD values are
verified at 2.5, 5, 10 and 50 A. The voltage THD
measurements are calibrated at 120, 240 and 600 V.
In general, for most equipment tested, very similar errors
have been observed for both voltage and current THD
measurements during their calibrations. These errors were also
practically identical at each current and voltage level tested.
One unexpected result of the tests is that there are differences
in THD measurement errors depending if the harmonic
component is in phase or at 180 degrees with respect to the
fundamental component of the test waveforms. These
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differences even though measureable, are small mostly within
the specifications of the equipment.
THD measuring equipment is also tested with field
recorded waveforms such as those shown in Fig. 1. Table 2
shows the THD measurements obtained with the same meter
and PMU reported in Table 1. The results of the meter for its
voltage THD measurement is relatively close to the reference
value. However the differences are more significant for the
current THD measurements. The THD measurements of the
PMU are the same as the reference value for the waveforms.
TABLE 2
THD MEASUREMENTS WITH THE WAVEFORMS OF FIG. 1
Quantity Reference Meter PMU
THD v 15.5% 15.3 % 15.5%
THD i 47.0% 43.0 % 47.0%
IV. CONCLUSIONS
Deregulation and the increasing use of distributed generation
in the electricity market have resulted in the introduction of
new measuring equipment particularly multifunction digital
revenue meters and phasor measurement units. This has
created new requirements for national laboratories that need to
provide calibration and traceability services for this new
measuring equipment. The paper presented some of the
research and development initiatives undertaken or under way
at the National Research Council of Canada to address these
new calibration requirements of the power industry. As an
example of the calibration services provided, test results
obtained for a revenue meter, a phasor measurement unit and a
THD meter operating under non-sinusoidal waveform
conditions are presented and discussed in the paper.
V. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors would like to thank Mrs. Michelle Frigault of
NRC/INMS for her contributions to this project. We also
want to thank Y. Tang from NIST Gaithersburg and G. N.
Stenbakken from GNS Consulting for their discussions and
advice on testing and evaluating PMUs.
VI. REFERENCES
[1] R Arseneau and P.S. Filipski, “Application of a Three Phase
Nonsinusoidal Calibration System for Testing Energy and Demand
Meters under Simulated Test Conditions”, IEEE Trans. On Power
Delivery, Vol. PWRD-3, No.2, July 1988,pp 874-879.
[2] R Arseneau and M B Hughes, “Selecting Revenue Meters for Harmonic
Producing Loads”, IEEE 11th International Conference on Harmonics
and Quality of Power, Lake Placid, NY, USA, 2004.
[3] IEEE Standard Definitions for the Measurement of Electric Power
Quantities Under Sinusoidal, Nonsinusoidal, Balanced, or Unbalanced
Conditions, IEEE Std. 1459, 2000.
[4] R Arseneau M. E. Sutherland and J. J. Zelle, “A New Transfer Device
for the NRC Travelling Standard Program”, IEEE Trans. On Instrum.
And Meas., Vol. IM-52, No.2,pp 411-414, April 2003.

VII. BIOGRAPHIES
Rejean Arseneau (M’81–SM’90) received the B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in
electrical engineering from the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton,
NB, Canada, in 1975 and 1979, respectively. In 1980, he joined the National
Research Council of Canada. He is currently a Principal Research Officer and
Leader of the Electrical Power Measurements Group, Institute for National
Measurement Standards, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON,
Canada. His research interests include high-accuracy measurements and power
quality, particularly the effects of harmonics on measuring equipment.
Mr. Arseneau is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers of
Ontario. He is the Chair of the IEEE Power Systems Instrumentation and
Measurements (PSIM) Technical Committee. He is a Past Chair of the IEEE
Ottawa Section. He is an Editor for PSIM of the IEEE Transactions on Power
Delivery.
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Eddy So (M’74–SM’84–F’90) received the M.Sc. and D.Sc. degrees in
electrical engineering from George Washington University, Washington, DC.
In 1977, he joined the National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON,
Canada. In 1979–1989, he was an Adjunct Professor with the University of
Ottawa, Ottawa, and Carleton University, Ottawa. In 1991–2004, he was the
Director of the Electromagnetic and Temperature Standards Section, Institute
for National Measurement Standards, National Research Council of Canada,
where he is currently a Principal Research Officer and Leader of the High
Voltage Power and Energy Measurements Program. His research interests
include the development of measurement techniques and instrumentation for
accurate measurements of active/reactive power and energy under difficult
operating conditions and for assessing the operating conditions of different
types of high-voltage insulation.
Dr. So is a registered Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario. He is
the Past Chair of the IEEE Power Systems Instrumentation and Measurements
Technical Committee, the Chair of its Subcommittee on Electricity Metering,
the Chair of its Working Group on Low-Power-Factor Power Measurements,
and is also its Standards Coordinator. In 2002–2008, he was the Chair of the
Conference on Precision Electromagnetic Measurements Executive
Committee.