The paper presents a comprehensive analysis dealing with the behaviour and economics of electronic compact uorescent lamps. The economic analysis, based on the results of the test concerning the lifetime and the lamp lumen maintenance factor of electronic compact uorescent lamps, and conducted using the costdiscount method, showed an obvious advantage for lamps of this type compared with incandescent ones. The strategic importance of the mass use of electronic compact uorescent lamps, as well as serious power quality implications it can cause to the network, are explained in detail. Possible solutions of this problem are also presented. List of symbolsCFL compact uorescent lamp GLS general lighting service LLMF lamp lumen maintenance factor lm x LLMF lowest maintained luminous ux of the lamp (lm) T y lamp operation per year (h) T compact uorescent lamp life (years) C IL total cost of operation of an incandescent lamp ($) C CFL total cost of operation of a compact uorescent lamp ($) R retail cost of a lamp ($) i discount rate (%)

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