At What kW Rating Is a Compensation Panel Required?

The requirement to install a compensation system for electricity subscribers is determined based on the power drawn and reactive ratios.

According to the legislation in force in Turkey:

Residential, villa, and dwelling subscribers are provided with meters appropriate to their contract power, and no reactive or capacitive penalties are applied.
For businesses, the use of combined electricity meters that measure reactive and capacitive power is mandatory for contract powers above 9 kW.
If no meter is installed, 90% reactive power is assumed and added to the electricity bill.
For businesses with a contract power of 9 kW or more, a compensation system is mandatory.
For businesses with a contract power between 9 kW and 29.9 kW, penalties are applied when the 33% reactive limit and 20% capacitive limit are exceeded.
For businesses with a contract power above 30 kW, penalties apply when the reactive power limit of 20% and the capacitive limit of 15% are exceeded.

In summary, every business drawing power above 9 kW is required to install a compensation panel. However, the critical point is not just “installing” it; it is ensuring that the system is correctly measured, monitored, and optimized.

What is a Compensation Panel and Why is it Important?

A compensation panel is an electrical system used in businesses to balance reactive power consumption. This system increases energy efficiency and protects businesses from reactive penalties by preventing unnecessary reactive power from being drawn from the grid.

Simply put, a facility operating without a compensation panel is like a motor with low energy efficiency. As the cosφ (power factor) in the system deviates from the ideal value, both energy losses increase and additional penalties are reflected on the bill.

Why Does Every Business Need a Different Compensation Solution?

Each facility has a different load structure, number of motors, and energy consumption characteristics. Therefore, applying the same capacity solution to every business in compensation systems cannot deliver the expected performance.

At Aha Teknoloji, we tailor our solutions to each facility's specific needs by:

Determining the appropriate reactive power capacity,
Designing the panel according to the required kVar value,
Selecting the most suitable hardware for the system.

This approach not only meets legal requirements but also maximizes efficiency in terms of energy quality, system stability, and longevity.

What Happens If There Is No Compensation Panel?

In facilities without a compensation system or with an inadequate one:

Reactive energy penalties are applied on bills,
Heat increase and efficiency decrease occur in devices,
Harmonic distortions increase in the grid,
Equipment life is significantly shortened in the long term.

In short, compensation is not just a “legal requirement”; it is an engineering measure that protects your business's energy health.

Smart Compensation Solutions from Aha Teknoloji

Aha Teknoloji offers next-generation solutions in reactive power management:

Static Var Generator (SVG)
Active Harmonic Filter (AHF)

Thanks to these systems, we go beyond conventional contactor-based compensation to provide seamless, precise, and high-speed reactive power balancing.

As a result, we meet legal requirements while minimizing energy costs.