Active Power and Reactiv Power
The short answer is both : a smart meter measures (shows) reactive power, and it also consumes a tiny amount of it to operate its own internal circuitry. Here is a breakdown of how smart meters handle reactive power. 1. Do They Show (Measure) Reactive Power? Yes. Unlike older, mechanical dial meters that usually only measured active power (kilowatt-hours or kWh), modern digital smart meters are sophisticated electronic devices capable of measuring multiple electrical quantities simultaneously. Smart meters typically measure: Active Power ( P ): Measured in kilowatts (kW) or kilowatt-hours (kWh). This is the actual energy doing real work (e.g., lighting a bulb, turning a motor). Reactive Power ( Q ): Measured in kilovolt-amperes reactive (kVAR) or kVARh. This is the power that bounces back and forth between the source and the load to sustain magnetic fields in inductive loads (like refrigerators, air conditioners, and washing machine motors). Apparen...