UK electrical standards: an overview

High accuracy metrology at the national standards level is both scientifically challenging and economically important. The author examines the advances made in electrical standards at NPL during the 1980s. In addition to very significant reductions in the quoted uncertainties for some long established standards, a number of completely new standards have been introduced to meet specific industrial requirements. Three developments in prospect are outlined: the Kibble kilogram; trapped atomic clocks; and amperes by numbers.