The wavelet transform is introduced as a method for analyzing electrom
agnetic-transients associated with power system faults and switching.
This method, like the Fourier transform, provides information related
to the frequency composition of a waveform, but it is more appropriate
than the familiar Fourier methods for the non-periodic, wide-band sig
nals associated with electromagnetic transients. It appears that the f
requency domain data produced by the wavelet transform may be useful f
or analyzing the sources of transients through manual or automated fea
ture detection schemes. The basic principles of wavelet analysis are s
et forth, and examples showing the application of the wavelet transfor
m to actual power system transients are presented.