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The "KVAR Power Factor Optimizer" claims to reduce your electricity bill by using capacitors to alter the power factor of the electricity being consumed in your home. It further claims that an improved power factor will extend the life of electrical devices, help electrical motors run more efficiently, save light bulbs and eliminate static interference.
The Kilowatts or real power (Volts x Amps x power factor) used by an appliance will not change when power factor is corrected. The cable resistance losses eliminated by power factor correction are negligible in most homes.
It is important that we are clear on the distinction between a product that scams consumers by exaggerated claims of electricity saving through pfc and a product that scams consumers by claiming it does pfc when it does not. We are of the opinion that the KVAR branded pfc products listed above (we will cover product quality and performance separately) are a technology capable of performing pfc.
If you are a residential rate payer - PLEASE PAY ATTENTION - Your Utility does not charge you for reactive power (pf of less than 100%) and you will save NOTHING - not a penny - no farthings - not a nickel - zilch - I do so hope you believe us!
It is true that most homes have electric motors and other devices which generate reactive power and lower power factor. We know that CFL light bulbs have a Power factor of between 55% and 70%. All electric motors, including fridges, air conditioners, fans and computers generate reactive power which will affect a circuits power factor.
Power factor is a technical term - it relates to the alignment of Volts and Amps - see our post on reactive power for a more detailed technical discussion - in simple terms it has NOTHING to do with the power of your electricity - despite the usual meaning of the word power!
I know it sounds logical that power factor correction will save money for home owners. But this is NOT correct at all. Improving a consumers power factor will probably save nothing, and may well cost you money - they do use electricity to charge and discharge their capacitors - and to no purpose for residential users.
Mr Mulvaney, a manufacturer of commercial pf technology contacted me regarding his company and said "I want you to know we do not recommend power factor correction in homes and I will be the first to tell you that savings if any would be negligible".
Mr Steve Fish, CEO of KVAR Energy Savings Inc. also contacted me. He said "we are a professional organization and will take back any KVAR product that fails to reduce the electricity bill by less than our guarantee of 6%". According to KVAR, they capture and store the reactive power (var's) generated by an electric motors while it runs. We agreed to run tests with KVAR to quantify any reduction in electricity, but they have declined to follow up on the offer.
I suggest that all consumers be vigilant when investigating "var" or KVAR related electricity savings in their home. Call your Utility and ask their opinion - they really will work with you!
When the power factor is less than 100% it means that there is a phase shift between voltage and current. Consumer tariffs are based on Real Power, only the electricity actually consumed by a device. The consumer electrical tariffs include provision for the losses which this "out of phase" might cause the electricity supplier.
It is true that electricity suppliers need to manage their distribution networks, and that power factor IS one of the factors that impacts their distribution losses. It is also true that large industrial users are charged a penalty for a net power factor of less than 85%. But distribution losses will not typically be solved by consumers. They are aggregate issues that can only be solved by the utility companies "the smart grid" in partnership with industry and device manufacturers.
Power factor and power factor correction are indeed subjects that we should be aware of as consumers, we are responsible for the energy costs we cause others, but it is near fraud when marketed to home owners as a simplistic way to save money on their electric bill.
We have an overview on "Power Factor"and the definitions for real power, apparent power and reactive power for those who would like to understand more of the technical details on this topic.
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