1. In a computer controlled electronic design automation system, a computer implemented method of providing power consumption characterization data for a logic cell representation of a physical circuit, said method comprising the steps of: (a) symbolically representing a plurality of transition states of said physical circuit based on a plurality of steady states of said logic cell representation; (b) determining a plurality of nodal switching dynamics patterns of said logic cell, each nodal switching dynamics pattern corresponding to one of said plurality of transition states; (c) comparing said nodal switching dynamics patterns; (d) identifying a group of power-equivalent states from said plurality of transition states; (e) selecting one transition state from said group of power-equivalent states; and (f) simulating said logic cell representation of said physical circuit to determine power characterization data of said logic cell when said selected transition state occurs; and (g) associating said power characterization data with said group of power-equivalent states.