Another point regarding line voltage issues, the distance from the substation or distribution system voltage regulators to the load may determine what you may see at the wall plug. Typically homes located closer to the substation (or regulator bank) will see higher voltages than those further away. This can be compensated for by the utility by changing the pole transformer taps, assuming that the transformer has taps. It can be a bit of a balancing act for the utility to hit that happy medium.
Add to this the fact that many utilities implement load control measures in an attempt to curtail additional purchased power costs during adverse temperature extremes, especially during cold months. They "shed" load by reducing the line voltage for a period of time. Most customers never realize this, but it sometimes forces the utility to run their "normal" line voltages slightly high in order to have the headroom to be able to implement reductions, sometimes in multiple steps. Chuck WB2EDV ----- Original Message ----- From: "Eric Lemmon" <wb6...@verizon.net> To: <Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Monday, February 09, 2009 9:09 PM Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] OT Power Factor > Tom, > > Excellent questions! The first is easy: Residences and light commercial > occupancies have meters that measure real (true) power only. That's > because > only real power does work, and that's what you are paying for. The > classic > kWh meter with the spinning aluminum disk was perfected by Ferraris and > Shallenberger more than a century ago, and millions are in service today. > The most recent improvement is a magnetically-levitated disk that nearly > eliminates any errors due to bearing friction. A revenue-grade kWh meter > is > extremely accurate, and very seldom requires service. > > [SNIP]
