# Electric Power Research Institute

> member of the Wi-Fi Alliance

**Wikidata**: [Q490303](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q490303)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_Power_Research_Institute)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/electric-power-research-institute

## Summary
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is an American research institute founded in 1973 by Chauncey Starr. Located in Palo Alto, California, the organization is classified as a research entity dedicated to generating new knowledge through systematic investigation. It is a member of the Wi-Fi Alliance and maintains a significant global presence across academic and digital platforms.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name:** Electric Power Research Institute
- **Also Known As:** EPRI, 電力研究学会（EPRI）, 電力研究所
- **Type:** Research Institute (Organization whose primary purpose is research)
- **Founding:** Founded in 1973 by Chauncey Starr
- **Location:** Palo Alto, United States
- **Website:** http://www.epri.com/Pages/Default.aspx
- **Membership:** Member of the Wi-Fi Alliance
- **Primary Identifiers:**
  - GRID ID: grid.418781.3
  - ROR ID: 02dqztz06
  - ISNI: 0000000123593628
  - Wikidata QID: Q31855 (inherited from class)
- **Social Media:**
  - Twitter: @eprinews (19,665 followers as of Feb 2023)
  - YouTube: 8,420 subscribers (as of May 2025), 256 videos
  - Facebook: EPRI

## FAQs
### Q: Who founded the Electric Power Research Institute and when?
The institute was founded in 1973 by Chauncey Starr.

### Q: Where is the Electric Power Research Institute located?
The organization is based in Palo Alto, California, in the United States.

### Q: What distinguishes EPRI from a university or think tank?
As a research institute, EPRI's primary purpose is conducting research rather than teaching or policy advocacy. Unlike universities, it does not grant degrees, and unlike think tanks, it focuses on fundamental inquiry rather than policy-oriented research.

### Q: What industry associations is EPRI affiliated with?
The Electric Power Research Institute is a verified member of the Wi-Fi Alliance.

### Q: How is the organization tracked in library and academic systems?
EPRI is indexed in numerous systems including the Library of Congress (n79110294), the German National Library (114824-2), the National Library of Israel, KISTI, and CiNii Research, reflecting its status as a cited authority in scientific literature.

## Why It Matters
As a dedicated research institute, the Electric Power Research Institute represents a distinct organizational form focused purely on generating new knowledge. Unlike commercial entities that research for immediate profit or universities balancing teaching duties, EPRI operates to conduct systematic investigation. This structure allows for the pursuit of long-term, high-risk research critical to infrastructure and technology, such as the advancement of electric power and connectivity standards. Its membership in the Wi-Fi Alliance suggests a role in bridging energy research with communication technologies.

## Notable For
- **Specific Research Focus:** Differentiated from think tanks and scientific societies by its operational focus on hands-on investigation rather than policy or membership services.
- **Connectivity Standards:** Holds membership in the Wi-Fi Alliance, indicating involvement in wireless technology standards.
- **Global Academic Presence:** Maintains records in over a dozen international library and authority systems, including VIAF, GND, and ISNI.
- **Digital Reach:** Commands a substantial social media audience across Twitter and YouTube, tracking follower counts in the tens of thousands.

## Body

### Identity and Classification
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is an independent, non-profit organization classified as a **research institute**. This classification defines it as an entity existing specifically to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation, distinct from universities (which combine research with teaching) or think tanks (which focus on policy). The institute is formally recognized in library cataloging systems and mapped to schema.org/ResearchOrganization.

### Founding and Location
EPRI was established in **1973** by **Chauncey Starr**. Its headquarters and primary operations are located in **Palo Alto, California**, United States. The organization is widely recognized by its acronym **EPRI** as well as its Japanese aliases (電力研究学会, 電力研究所).

### Organizational Affiliations
The institute maintains strategic memberships in industry groups. Notably, it is a **member of the Wi-Fi Alliance**, connecting it to the ecosystem of wireless network technology and certification.

### Digital Presence and Media
EPRI maintains an active public profile through digital channels. Its official website is hosted at `epri.com`. Its social media footprint includes:
- **Twitter:** Handle @eprinews (User ID: 61309973), with follower counts tracking from 17,564 in 2020 to 19,665 in 2023.
- **YouTube:** Channel ID `UCctcciH1NrAGpwMnKwvnLgQ`, hosting 256 videos with subscribers growing from 4,910 in 2020 to 8,420 in 2025.
- **Facebook:** Operating under the handle "EPRI".

### Academic and Authority Identifiers
EPRI is extensively indexed in global bibliographic and research databases, ensuring its unique identification across systems:
- **Global Research Identifiers:** GRID ID `grid.418781.3`, ROR ID `02dqztz06`, ISNI `0000000123593628`.
- **Library Authorities:** Library of Congress Authority ID `n79110294`, German National Library (GND) ID `114824-2`, VIAF ID `131953572`, National Library of Israel ID `987007605035705171`.
- **Research Databases:** Open Funder Registry ID `100008421`, CiNii Research ID `1140563741520431744`, KISTI ID `K000215800`, and Ringgold ID `263283`.

### Wikipedia and Knowledge Graph Data
The entity has a significant footprint in open knowledge bases. It has a **Wikidata description** identifying it as a member of the Wi-Fi Alliance and features sitelinks across five languages (Arabic, German, English, Spanish, French). It holds legacy identifiers such as the Freebase ID `/m/0276w47` and the Microsoft Academic ID `1335486098`. Detailed social media metrics and organizational data are preserved in structured properties via Wikidata, including Yale LUX ID and Global Energy Monitor Wiki ID.

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-01-10
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. CiNii Research
4. [Source](https://www.wi-fi.org/membership/member-companies)
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. Czech National Authority Database
7. Google Knowledge Graph
8. GRID Release 2015-12-14
9. GRID Release 2016-12-06
10. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
11. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
12. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
13. YouTube API
14. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)