A pulse width modulation (PWM) based active harmonic filter (AHF) system including a controller configured to adjust a load on the system from a first to a second load, the first load being greater than the second load, wherein the controller is configured to adjust a frequency of the system from a first to a second frequency when the load is equal to the second load, and wherein the second frequency is greater than the first; a first harmonic compensator configured to filter a first order of harmonics of a load when the load is equal to the second load; and a second harmonic compensator configured to filter a second order of harmonics of the load in parallel with the first order of harmonics when the load is equal to the second load and frequency equals the second frequency, the second order of harmonics being greater than the first order.