Electrical energy meters having real-time power quality measurement and reporting capability

In an electrical energy meter containing means therein for metering a quantity of electrical energy generated by a supplier and transferred via a power supply line to a load of a customer during an energy measurement time interval, a method of monitoring variations in the metered quantity of electrical energy, comprising the steps of:

• sensing a line voltage transferred via the power supply line to the load during the energy measurement time interval;
• detecting an increase in a magnitude of the sensed line voltage from an acceptable voltage level to a level greater than a first surge threshold voltage, upon commencement of a surge time interval during which the magnitude of the sensed line voltage is at all times greater than the acceptable voltage level;
• recording a surge event if the magnitude of the sensed line voltage exceeds the acceptable voltage level for a first predetermined amount of time after commencement of the surge time interval;
• and then
• communicating the recorded surge event to at least the supplier or customer promptly on a real time basis.

An electrical energy meter for reporting line voltage variations in real-time, comprising:

• means for sensing a line voltage generated by a supplier and transferred via a power supply line to a load of a customer;
• means, responsive to said sensing means, for detecting an increase in a magnitude of the sensed line voltage from an acceptable voltage level to a level greater than a first surge threshold voltage, upon commencement of a surge time interval during which the magnitude of the sensed line voltage is at all times greater than the acceptable voltage level;
• means, responsive to said detecting means, for recording a surge event if the sensed line voltage exceeds the acceptable voltage level for a first predetermined amount of time after commencement of the surge time interval;
• and
• means, responsive to said recording means, for communicating the recorded surge event to at least the supplier or customer before termination of the surge time interval.