ELECTRICAL EFFICIENCY LIBRARY
REACTIVE POWER, POWER FACTOR & REAL ENERGY
These terms are related, but they are not interchangeable—and confusing them can lead to misleading energy claims.
Real power
Real power, measured in kW, is the power doing useful work at a given moment. Integrated over time, it becomes kWh, the energy metric most customers recognize on a utility bill.
Reactive and apparent power
Inductive and capacitive loads can create reactive power. Apparent power combines real and reactive components and is commonly expressed as kVA. Improving power factor can reduce current and kVA without automatically implying an equal percentage reduction in kWh.
Why Orion measures the outcome
Power conditioning may change current, losses, power factor, demand, harmonics, or other variables. Orion looks at the facility’s actual utility and interval data to determine which of those changes creates measurable economic value.
A PRACTICAL NEXT STEP
Ready to improve your electrical system?
Talk with Orion about your facility, energy costs, electrical system and what you want to improve. We’ll help identify the most practical path.