Power provided and maintained for the explicit purpose of insuring continuous, steady voltage on transmission networks. Reactive power is energy which must be produced for maintenance of the system and is not produced for end-use consumption. Electric motors, electromagnetic generators and alternators used for creating alternating current are all components of the energy delivery chain which require reactive power. Losses incurred in transmission from heat and electromagnetic emissions are included in total reactive power. This power is supplied for many purposes by condensers, capacitors and similar devices which can react to changes in current flow by releasing energy to normalize the flow, and regulating generators may also have this capability.

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