The Power Efficiency, Reliability, and Quality (PERQ) Certification Program was established by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to advance verification of electrical products under real-world power conditions. Building on EPRI’s long-standing expertise in power quality research, PERQ was created to define and certify how products perform not only in terms of efficiency, but also in reliability and resilience to electrical disturbances.

Founding Purpose

PERQ emerged from the need for a more complete measure of product performance. Traditional efficiency programs focus on steady-state operation, but many products experience significant challenges when exposed to voltage sags, harmonics, dynamic loading, and transient events common in industrial and commercial environments.

EPRI developed PERQ as an independent, laboratory-based certification program that evaluates both energy efficiency and power quality performance—providing manufacturers and end users with clear, data-driven assurance.

Standards and Test Foundations

PERQ testing is built upon international, national, and industry standards that define best practices for energy efficiency and power quality resilience. These include:

• IEEE 1668 – Recommended Practice for Voltage Sag and Short Interruption Ride-Through
• IEC 61000-4-11 – Voltage dips & short interruption immunity (I <= 16A)
• IEC 61000-4-34 – Voltage dips & short interruption immunity (I > 16A)
• SEMI F47 – Semiconductor processing equipment voltage sag immunity
• ENERGY STAR – Energy efficiency requirements for conversion & backup systems

Through these recognized standards and EPRI’s refined laboratory procedures, PERQ establishes consistent and repeatable methods that quantify efficiency, reliability, and power quality performance within a single framework.

Continuing Commitment

EPRI continues to expand PERQ’s scope and accessibility, developing new test protocols and maintaining a searchable database of certified products. PERQ supports advancement of energy-efficient, reliable, and power quality–resilient technologies—reinforcing EPRI’s mission to deliver science-based solutions that strengthen global electrical infrastructure.