It is a measure of electrical efficiency, and in electrical engineering terms, is defined as the ratio of a circuit’s “real power” to its “apparent power”. Devices with high power factors make better use of the power being supplied to them than devices with low power factors. In this context, a power factor can range from 0 to 1, where 1 represents 100% efficiency, in which case a device would be using all of the power it is being supplied with.

In short, having a low power factor means that you are not getting your money’s worth when it comes to the electricity you buy from the power company. Operators of commercial buildings and data centres will often employ power factor correction (PFC) units, which can improve their power factor, and drive down their electricity costs.

Explore related services that support performance, safety, and uptime across your facility, with options that complement this work and help keep your critical systems reliable day to day.