Patent ID: 7804280

Claim:
A device for providing power factor correction of a power line carrying power having a voltage and a current, comprising: a power factor measurement module configured to measure the current and the voltage of the power line; a power factor correction assembly including a capacitance configured to be connected to the power line; wherein said power factor correction assembly is configured to vary the capacitance; a controller in communication with said power factor measurement assembly and said power factor correction assembly; a communication module in communication with said controller; wherein said controller is configured to cause said communication module to transmit data of the measured current and voltage to a remote computer system; wherein said controller is responsive to a command originating from the remote computer system to cause said power factor correction assembly to change the capacitance, substantially at a zero crossing of the voltage of the power carried by power line; and wherein said controller is configured to cause said power factor correction assembly to increase the capacitance upon determining that the voltage of the power line is below a predetermined voltage.