Whisker Labs Advances Grid Monitoring by Enhancing the Ting Sensor Network with Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) Measurements
Whisker Labs provides powerful insights into power quality and resiliency with the addition of Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) measurements for homes, communities, and utilities.
GERMANTOWN, MARYLAND (November 12, 2024): Whisker Labs has enhanced its industry-leading grid monitoring technology by introducing Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) measurements, providing unprecedented insights into the health of the U.S. electric grid. THD monitoring enables identification of homes and regions experiencing elevated levels of ‘distorted’ power. These disturbances reduce energy efficiency, damage home appliances, and harm critical grid infrastructure, ultimately leading to higher costs for homeowners. This advancement not only provides benefits at the household level, but also offers valuable insights to utilities, government agencies, and researchers addressing challenges faced by modern power grids.
This exclusive, impactful data set is powered by Ting, a DIY plug-in sensor that detects and mitigates electrical hazards that lead to fires. While a single Ting sensor monitors a home, the network of Ting sensors monitors power quality and the resiliency of the electrical grid across the nation. By integrating THD monitoring into Ting, Whisker Labs is bringing this advanced power quality assessment directly into homes and communities for the first time, helping to better understand and address grid issues on both a local and national scale.
“We are at a pivotal moment in understanding how electrification, increased demand, and distributed energy sources like solar panels, EVs, and battery storage are impacting the grid,” said Bob Marshall, co-founder and CEO of Whisker Labs. “The grid was not designed to accommodate the stress being placed on it today. The ability to monitor Total Harmonic Distortion in real time at the household level is critical in identifying areas where power quality problems are present, enabling timely interventions to help prevent larger problems.”
The potential threats to the grid extend beyond everyday inefficiencies. Geomagnetic solar storms, physical attacks, and cyber threats to the nation’s electrical infrastructure are growing concerns for utilities, government agencies, and national security experts. Ting’s advanced THD measurements offer new, real-time situational awareness that can help these stakeholders measure and mitigate risks to enhance grid resilience in the face of both natural and man-made disruptions.
Ting data reveals that most areas across the country receive power within industry-acceptable THD limits. However, several utility grids show significant challenges with damaging harmonics. To make these insights accessible, Whisker Labs is releasing a first-of-its-kind, publicly available data platform that provides THD measurement trends by utility provider.
Ting users will also receive additional notification if their home’s THD levels increase beyond the industry standard for acceptable limits.
Whisker Labs remains committed to supporting utilities, federal agencies, emergency responders, and researchers in their collective efforts to strengthen grid reliability and resilience. This new THD monitoring capability provides a crucial, unprecedented data set that can help protect homes, communities, and the grid at large.
About Whisker Labs
Whisker Labs develops cutting-edge sensor technology to protect families, homes, and communities by predicting and preventing electrical fires while also monitoring the resiliency and safety of the U.S. electrical grid. Through a single, DIY sensor plugged into a wall outlet, Ting, Whisker Labs’ flagship solution, enables intelligent detection, localization, and mitigation of hazards before they can start a fire. As one of the fastest growing grid IoT networks, Ting is proven to prevent 4 out 5 home electrical fires, reducing home fire losses and saving lives across the U.S. every day. For more information visit whiskerlabs.com.