The common denominator between DSM and power quality

As utilities implement programs to push for energy efficiency, one of the results may be an increased population of end-uses that have a propensity to be sensitive to power delivery abnormalities. Some may view this as the price we have to pay for increasing the functionality of bulk 60 Hz power. Others may view this as a good reason to stay away from DSM. The utility industry must view this situation as an important element of their DSM planning and reflect the costs of mitigating potential power quality problems in the overall program. Power quality mitigation costs will not drastically add much to the total DSM bill, but the costs of poor power quality could definitely negate the positive benefits of new technologies. Failure to properly plan for the sensitivities of energy efficient equipment will be a major mistake considering the solutions are fairly well known. Proper understanding, education, design, and protection, using a systems approach to problem solving, will ensure that power quality problems won't force us to abandon beneficial efficiency improvement programs