Overview
IEC TR 63213:2019 is a Technical Report from the IEC that surveys the state of the art for power measurement applications in electrical distribution networks (supply side) and electrical installations (demand side). It provides guidance on the types of measurements, measurement device categories, measurement objectives and the relevant international standards that govern these applications. Note: this report explicitly does not cover measurements made solely for protection, control, automation or indication.
Key topics and requirements
- Measurement application categories: grid power quality, power monitoring, billing (energy measurement), and energy management (cost control and efficiency).
- Device definitions and functions: descriptions of instruments such as Power Quality Instruments (PQI), Power Metering and Monitoring Devices (PMD), energy/watt-hour meters and reactive (var-hour) meters.
- Measurement accuracy and classes: reference to power quality measurement classes (e.g., Class A / Class S as defined in IEC 61000-4-30) and the need to match device capability to application requirements.
- Measurement planning: importance of a complete energy measurement plan and distributed metering network to deliver reliable, traceable power and energy data for operational and commercial needs.
- State-of-the-art summaries: concise overviews of measurement practices, benefits and typical parameters to monitor for each application area.
- Supporting material: informative annexes with practical examples (e.g., mall electrical installation), device comparisons and mappings to specific measurement standards.
Practical applications - who uses this standard
IEC TR 63213 is useful to:
- Utility engineers and grid operators planning supply-side monitoring and power quality characterization.
- Facility managers and energy managers designing demand-side metering and energy management systems.
- Meter and instrument manufacturers to align product capabilities with application-specific measurement needs.
- Energy consultants, auditors and test laboratories selecting measurement approaches and referencing appropriate standards.
- Project planners building metering architectures for billing, power monitoring, or energy-efficiency programs.
Typical uses:
- Selecting PQIs or PMDs for continuous monitoring of voltage quality, harmonics and event logging.
- Designing metering networks to support billing, sub-billing and cost allocation.
- Implementing measurement systems for energy management and process efficiency monitoring.
Related standards (examples referenced)
IEC TR 63213 acts as a roadmap that links practical measurement needs to these established standards, helping stakeholders choose the right devices and measurement strategies for reliable, standards-aligned power and energy data.