KVAH Billing

Power Factor/Kvah Billing

  • Power Factor is an indicator for efficiency of Energy Conversion.
  • Electrical Energy has two components viz. Active Energy (kWh) and Reactive Energy (kVArh). Vector sum of these two components is called as Apparent Energy & is measured in terms of kVAh.
  • The active or real power (P) is actually consumed and converted into useful work for creating heat, light and motion and is measured in (kW) and is totalized by the energy meter as kWh.
  • The reactive power (Q) is used to provide the electromagnetic field in inductive equipment and drawn from grid. Also reactive power is supplied by consumer to grid in case of excessive capacitive load. It is measured in kVAr (Lag / Lead) and is totalized by the energy meter as kVArh (Lag /Lead).
  • Apparent Power (S) measured in kVA is the product of the Root Mean Square (RMS) values of voltage and current. The Vector sum of active power and reactive power is called apparent power.
  • The ratio of active power to apparent power is called the power factor.
  • If power factor is on the lagging side it can be improved by installing capacitors of appropriate ratings and if the power factor is on leading side it can be improved by installing reactors/ removing excess capacitors of appropriate ratings.
  • Desired Power Factor is unity i.e. 1, and its range is Zero Lag – unity - Zero Lead. For purely capacitive loads PF is Zero Lead and for purely inductive loads PF is zero Lag.
  • Unity Power Factor signifies that there is no reactive power exchange between consumer and grid
  • Power Factor is an indicator for efficiency of Energy Conversion. If PF is 0.85 it means that 15% of power is not resulting in actual work. If PF is 0.85 lagging it means that 15 % of power is used by inductive elements. If PF is 0.85 leading it means that 15 % excess reactive power is supplied by capacitive elements. In both the aforementioned cases 15 % of power is not resulting in to actual work. Both Leading and lagging power factor are equally harmful to the power system.
  • At present, Consumers are billed on Active Energy Consumption measured in kWh along with the fixed charges and other charges. kWh consumption when multiplied by the applicable tariff for the consumer will give energy charges payable by the consumer. The effect of reactive energy is considered through Power Factor penalty / incentive mechanism. Penalty is levied to consumers for Power Factor (PF) below 0.90 (for Lead as well as Lag PF) and incentive is provided for P.F. above 0.95 (for Lead as well asLag PF).

    Both Active (kWh) and Reactive (kVArh) energies are consumed simultaneously. Reactive Energy (kVArh) occupies the capacity of electricity network and reduces the useful capacity of system for generation and distribution & hence its consumption also needs to be billed. kWh based billing is associated with PF incentive /penalty mechanism. Considering that the kVAh based billing has an inbuilt incentive /penalty mechanism and separate mechanism for the same is no more required; instead of billing two energies separately, billing of kVAh energy is preferred as a commercial inducement.

    KVAh billing has an inherent mechanism to incentivize or penalize consumers according to their power factor. The Prime Objective of the kVAh based billing is to encourage the consumers to maintain near unity Power factor to achieve loss reduction, improve system stability, power quality and improve voltage profile. At the national level, emphasis is being given to Energy Conservation, Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management (DSM) to optimize the energy usage. Through kVAh billing, the consumers will be encouraged to adopt energy efficiency programs and will be benefited by reduced electricity bills.

    KVAh billing has an inherent mechanism to incentivize or penalize consumers according to their power factor. The Prime Objective of the kVAh based billing is to encourage the consumers to maintain near unity Power factor to achieve loss reduction, improve system stability, power quality and improve voltage profile. At the national level, emphasis is being given to Energy Conservation, Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management (DSM) to optimize the energy usage. Through kVAh billing, the consumers will be encouraged to adopt energy efficiency programs and will be benefited by reduced electricity bills.

  • Forum of Regulators (FOR), has recommended kVAh billing. FoR in its report on “Metering Issues” published on August 2009 has stated that kVAh billing is the new trend in electricity billing, which is adopted worldwide.
  • State Electricity Regulatory Commissions in various States viz. Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Haryana, Punjab etc. have already introduced kVAh based tariff for various categories.
  • As per MERC Order in Case no. 195 of 2017 dated September 12, 2018, The Commission intends to implement kVAh billing to all HT consumer and LT consumers having load above 20 kW from 1st April, 2020. The report is available on FoR website on following link. Click here for detail FOR Website
  • MERC Multi Year Tariff
  • MERC Mid Term Review (MTR) Order in Case No. 195 of 2017 dated 12 September, 2018. (MYT) Order in Case No. 48 of 2016 dated 03November, 2016.
  • OTHER KNOWLEDGE-BASE ARTICLES