What is the unit of measure for reactive power?

Reactive power is measured in volt-amps reactive, commonly abbreviated as VAR. It represents the power that alternates between the source and the reactive components in an AC circuit, like inductors and capacitors, without being consumed. Reactive power is essential for maintaining voltage levels necessary for active power to perform useful work in the electrical system.

While watt refers to active power (the power that actually performs work), volt-ampere (VA) signifies apparent power, which is the combination of both active and reactive power. Kilo-volt-ampere (kVA) is merely a larger unit of apparent power. Therefore, these units do not specifically represent reactive power like VAR does. Thus, VAR is the correct unit of measure for reactive power, as it directly quantifies the reactive component that does not contribute to the actual work done in a system.