Power Quality Survey Report: What It Includes
A power quality survey report in Saudi Arabia should contain seven parts: the measurement set-up, at least seven days of logged voltage, current, power factor and harmonics, a comparison with stated limits, a list of events, the load profile, and ranked findings with corrective actions. If a report lacks the last part, you have data but no decision.
What you receive: a written proposal for a power quality survey, with the logging period, report contents and price, within one working day of receiving your electricity bill or single-line diagram. Request a quotation
By Eng. Ahmed Ali, Saudi Power Factor Company. Published 9 October 2026.
What sections should a power quality survey report contain?
A useful report has the sections below, in this order. Use the third column as a checklist when a contractor sends you a sample or a draft.
| Section | What it shows | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Scope and set-up | Where the instrument was connected, CT ratios, instrument class, dates | Measured at the incomer, not only at one sub-board |
| Voltage quality | Level, dips, swells, unbalance, voltage distortion (THDv) | The limit used is named, such as EN 50160 or IEEE 519 |
| Current and harmonics | Current distortion (THDi) and individual orders such as the 5th, 7th and 11th | The dominant orders are identified, not only the total |
| Power factor and reactive power | kW, kVAr, kVA and power factor for every interval | Hours below your target are counted |
| Load profile | Daily and weekly demand, shift pattern, peaks | Weekday and weekend are both present |
| Events | Time-stamped dips, transients and interruptions | Events are matched to your trip or fault log |
| Findings and actions | Ranked problems, each tied to a measurement | Every action has a rating, a location and a reason |
Our own power quality survey follows this structure. Where a project needs Class A measurement, we use analysers from our Italian technology partner, Elcontrol Energy Net, whose NanoVIP KUBA is a Class A power quality analyser.
How long should the logging period be?
Log for at least seven days. A week covers every shift, the weekend shutdown and the startup peaks, and most voltage-quality assessments are written on a one-week basis. Class A instruments to IEC 61000-4-30 aggregate readings into 10-minute intervals, so a seven-day log holds 1,008 intervals per measured quantity.
Shorter logging is acceptable only for a single known fault, such as a breaker that trips every morning. For a sizing or compliance decision, a one-day log can miss the worst week of the month.
How do you read the findings? A worked example
The figures below are assumed values chosen to show the method. They are not measurements from a real client.
A plant logs seven days at the 1,000 kVA transformer incomer, giving 1,008 ten-minute intervals.
- Power factor. The report counts 312 intervals below 0.90. That is 312 ÷ 1,008 = 31% of the week, a clear sign that correction is needed.
- Reactive power at peak. The peak is 640 kW at a power factor of 0.82. Lifting it to 0.95 needs 640 × (tan 34.9° − tan 18.2°) = 640 × (0.698 − 0.329) = about 236 kVAr.
- Voltage distortion. The 95th-percentile THDv is 4.6%, against an 8% limit for systems at or below 1 kV. This passes.
- Current distortion. THDi at the incomer is 28%, led by the 5th and 7th harmonics. The voltage is still clean, but the capacitors you add will meet these currents.
- Decision. Specify about 250 kVAr in five 50 kVAr steps, with detuned reactors, rather than a plain bank.
The 95th percentile means the value that the plant stays below for 95% of the week. In this log, about 50 intervals sit above it. Reports that quote only the maximum overstate the problem, and reports that quote only the average hide it.
What should the survey tell you to do next?
It should end with actions you can price. The usual outcomes fall into three groups:
- Add or resize correction. The log shows reactive demand, so the next step is PFC panel design and sizing.
- Protect the capacitors. High THDi calls for detuned capacitor banks so the capacitors do not resonate with the supply.
- Reduce the distortion itself. Where THDi or THDv breaks the limit on its own, the answer is a harmonic filter panel.
Ask the author to mark which findings affect your electricity bill and which affect equipment life. The two lists are rarely the same.
Power quality survey report questions
Who provides a power quality survey report in Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Power Factor Company provides power quality surveys and written reports across Saudi Arabia, from Dammam. We log at your incomer or at the loads you name, then issue the findings with ranked, costed actions for your engineers and consultant.
What affects the cost of a power quality survey?
The main factors are the number of measurement points, the logging period, the instrument class, whether engineers must travel outside the Eastern Province, and how detailed the report must be. A single-incomer survey costs less than a multi-board study. Send your single-line diagram and we price it.
How long does a power quality survey take?
Measurement runs for a minimum of seven days. Analysis and report writing follow, and the duration depends on the number of points logged and the access we are given. Survey teams mobilise within one working day in the Eastern Province; the report date is set in the quotation. Early access to the incomer shortens the start.
Is a power quality survey the same as an energy audit?
They answer different questions. A power quality survey measures the electrical supply: voltage, harmonics, power factor and events. An energy audit looks at where kWh are consumed. The survey gives the data you need to size correction and filters, and its power factor findings feed directly into an energy audit.
Do I need a survey before buying an APFC panel?
You need one when the load changes sharply, when drives or UPS units are present, or when capacitors have failed before. For a steady, motor-only load, a month of bills is often enough to size the panel. We will tell you which case you are in when you send the bill.
Can you review a report from another contractor?
Yes. Send the report and we check it against the sections above, confirm the correction size and recommend whether detuning or filtering is needed. We then give you a written view you can pass to your consultant.
Need a power quality survey report for your plant? Send us your single-line diagram or one month of your electricity bill and receive a quotation within one working day.
Email: inquiry@saudipowerfactor.com | Request a quotation