How do you communicate and report power quality and harmonic analysis results to your stakeholders?

1 Know your audience

The first step is to identify who your stakeholders are and what their needs and expectations are. Different audiences may have different levels of technical knowledge, interest, and authority over the power system. For example, a client may want to know how the power quality affects their equipment performance and energy costs, while a regulator may want to know if the power system complies with the standards and regulations. Therefore, you need to tailor your communication and report to suit your audience's goals, questions, and concerns.

2 Use clear and concise language

The second step is to use clear and concise language that avoids unnecessary jargon, acronyms, or technical terms. Power quality and harmonic analysis can involve many concepts, such as voltage, current, frequency, power factor, distortion, flicker, sag, swell, transient, and so on. While these terms may be familiar to you as a power engineer, they may not be to your stakeholders. Therefore, you need to define and explain these terms in simple and understandable ways, using examples, analogies, or diagrams if possible. You also need to avoid long and complex sentences that may confuse or bore your readers.

3 Highlight the key findings and recommendations

The third step is to highlight the key findings and recommendations of your power quality and harmonic analysis. Your stakeholders may not have the time or interest to read through all the details and data of your analysis. Therefore, you need to summarize the main results, such as the power quality indices, the harmonic sources and levels, the impacts and risks of poor power quality, and the potential solutions and improvements. You also need to provide clear and actionable recommendations that address the root causes and effects of the power quality issues, such as installing filters, capacitors, regulators, or other devices.

4 Use visual aids and data formats

The fourth step is to use visual aids and data formats that can help your stakeholders understand and interpret your power quality and harmonic analysis results. Visual aids, such as graphs, charts, tables, maps, or photos, can help you present your data in a more appealing and accessible way. They can also help you compare, contrast, or highlight different aspects of your data, such as trends, patterns, anomalies, or outliers. Data formats, such as spreadsheets, reports, dashboards, or software tools, can help you organize, store, and share your data in a more convenient and flexible way. They can also help you perform calculations, analysis, or simulations on your data.

5 Provide feedback and follow-up

The fifth step is to provide feedback and follow-up to your stakeholders after you communicate and report your power quality and harmonic analysis results. Feedback and follow-up can help you ensure that your stakeholders have received, understood, and accepted your communication and report. They can also help you address any questions, comments, or concerns that your stakeholders may have about your analysis or recommendations. Feedback and follow-up can also help you monitor and evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of your recommendations, as well as identify any new or emerging power quality issues.

6 Seek continuous improvement

The sixth step is to seek continuous improvement in your communication and report skills and methods. Communication and report are not one-time or static activities, but rather ongoing and dynamic processes that require constant learning and adaptation. Therefore, you need to seek feedback from your stakeholders and peers on how you can improve your communication and report. You also need to keep yourself updated on the latest developments and best practices in power quality and harmonic analysis, as well as the relevant standards and regulations. By seeking continuous improvement, you can enhance your credibility, professionalism, and value as a power engineer.