The electric load is the load created in the electric network by the electric receivers included for work in the network, it is expressed in units of current or power. Electric receivers are connected to electric networks alone or in groups. Electrical receivers can be part of a group of not only the same, but also different purposes and modes of operation. The mode of operation of the power supply system of identical receivers and their groups depends on the mode of operation or its combinations of single receivers or their groups.
The nature of the load in the network may remain unchanged during operation of electric receivers, change in all or individual phases, accompanied by the appearance of higher harmonics of voltage or current. In view of this the electrical load in the network is of the following types:
- quiet symmetrical (the vast majority of three-phase electric receivers);
- asymmetrical;
- abrupt change;
- nonlinear.
Specific loads include sharp-variable, non-linear and asymmetric loads.