The Electric Grid

In this episode - The Electric Grid . . .

Flip a switch, and a light comes on. In most cases, the electricity to power that device came from an enormous interconnected system called the electric grid. Have you ever wondered how it works?

What is the Electric Grid?

An electric grid is a network of synchronized power providers and consumers connected by transmission and distribution lines and operated by one or more control centers. When most people talk about the power "grid," they're referring to the transmission system for electricity.

The continental United States does not have a national grid. Instead, there are three grids: the Eastern Interconnect, the Western Interconnect, and the Texas Interconnect. In Alaska and Hawaii, several smaller systems interconnect parts of each state.

Electricity gets generated in many different ways: Power plants that burn oil, gas, or coal. Nuclear plants. Solar arrays. Wind farms and hydroelectric Dams where water cascades. In most places, the grid connects hundreds or more of these places to a vast network of wires and equipment. Electric current can travel along many paths within this network. Power also can flow either way along the cables. Equipment directs the current where needed.

Two-way wires allow the use of alternating current or AC. Electric grids in most countries use AC current. AC means the current switches direction many times per second. With AC, transformers can boost the voltage or force of the current. High voltage is more efficient for sending electricity over long distances through wires. Transformers then step the voltage down to lower, safer levels before the current travels onto your home or business.

How does this affect you?

Unless you live "off-the-grid" (in a remote cabin in the mountains), you take electricity for granted every day in many ways; your coffee pot, refrigerator, heating, air-conditioning, lighting, television, charging your phone, and so much more. Speaking of television, I'm sure you've seen commercials touting that you can eliminate your electric bill by going Solar. I'm sorry that's not possible. Why? Because your Solar system is connected to the grid.

The utility company that provides you with power has charges on your bill called "Non-bypassable" charges.

Non-bypassable charges are fees you pay for every kilowatt-hour of electricity you consume from the grid. These charges can fund energy assistance programs for low-income households and energy efficiency programs. These charges apply even if you buy your grid-supplied power from an outside power company.

According to Chris Pilong, an electrical engineer at PJM Interconnection in Audubon, Penn. There's a catch. "We need to keep things perfectly balanced." PJM runs the grid for all or parts of 13 states, plus the District of Columbia.

By balanced, Pilong means that the amount of electricity supplied at any time must match the amount used. Too much power can overheat wires or damage equipment. Too little power can lead to problems such as blackouts and brownouts. Blackouts are losses of all power to some regions. Brownouts are partial drops in the system's ability to supply power.

Why must I be connected?

I can hear you saying, "But wait just one minute, I get credit for the excess power we generate on our bill. What if I just disconnect from the grid?"

Ok, but what happens at night. How do you run your appliances and lights? The typical answer these days is battery storage. Sounds easy, but have you ever looked into what's required to use battery storage to be independent of the grid?

That's an entirely different subject. We will explore battery storage in another episode.

I'm Patrick Ball; thanks for listening. I'll see you in the next episode.

References:
https://freedomforever.com/blog/non-bypassable-charges/
https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/explainer-what-electric-grid

Comments

Finding Our Place

In this episode, Finding Our Place: Hope and Humanity in the Age of AI . . . Yesterday, I overheard a conversation that echoed a question many of us are quietly asking: In a world increasingly shaped by algorithms, where do we , as humans, truly fit in? My younger colleagues, sharp and driven, were "joking" about AI taking their jobs. Their concerns felt valid, prompting me to reflect. Will machines really replace us? My answer, unequivocally, is No . And here’s why. What makes us uniquely human isn't merely our ability to perform tasks. It's our innate capacity for creativity and our deep-seated need to serve others. These aren't just abstract ideas; they are the very essence of what gives meaning to our lives and work. While AI excels at processing data and automating tasks with incredible speed, it cannot replicate the spark of human ingenuity. It lacks the empathy to truly understand unspoken needs or the intuitive synergy that fosters breakthrough solutio...

Chasing the Magic

In this episode, Chasing the Magic: How the Summer of ’98 Inspired the 'Ball Boys' . . . Do you remember that feeling? The late-summer air was thick with humidity, radios crackling on porches, the smell of fresh-cut grass and barbecue smoke in the backyard. Every evening carried a new kind of suspense—the country holding its collective breath after every pitch. “Did he hit one today?” became more than a question; it sparked a nationwide conversation. For me, and millions of others, the summer of 1998 wasn’t just another baseball season. It was theater, a movement, a time when the game recaptured something sacred. As sportswriter Mike Lupica said so perfectly, “No matter how old you are or how much you’ve seen, sports is still about memory and imagination. Never more than during the summer of ’98, when baseball made everyone feel like a kid again, when it felt important again.” Just four years earlier, the 1994 players’ strike had left the sport bruised...

The Curious Crew

In today's special episode, The Curious Crew . . . Oh, our young folks are ready, with AI so grand, A new era of wonders across every land! With curious minds, vast as Space, full of creative delight, And a zest for exploring, with all of their light! They welcome new tools, with a gleam in their eye, To learn and to grow, way up to the sky! Our thinking's a marvel, a clever design, We make new plans, so fantastically fine! With problem-space maps and memories, too, We build new ideas, quite fresh and quite new! With smiling faces, showing gratitude's grace, We find our own wonderful, human-filled place! Sharing a meal with generosity and love, A warm human spirit, a gift from above! We stand tall together, collaborate, and help with a grin, For with Agentic AI, together we win! Not machines all alone, but with us by their side, We'll create and serve, with nothing to hide! I'm Patrick Ball. Stay curious and ask questions. See you next time.

The Sights of Summer

In this episode, The Sights of Summer: Chasing Miles & Unexpected Smiles . . . For Lori and me, the perfect summer morning isn't something you find marked on a calendar; it's a feeling . It's the refreshing crispness of the air on our faces, the gentle warmth of the sun on our skin, and the exciting anticipation of discovering new miles and uncovering the hidden "sights of summer" along our journey. A glorious California day returns with our weekly ride. We begin with a warm-up cruise around our neighborhood under a wide, cloudless, azure sky. With a smile, I’m thinking, " You know it’s going to be a great ride when even furry co-pilots are excited!" We chuckled as a neighbor drove past, two white, fluffy dogs with their tongues flapping in the breeze and ears flopping wildly out the truck window. Pure canine bliss—an ideal sign for a fun day on two wheels. “Did you see those pups? They looked like they were smiling.” Traffic was blissfully light, ...

On The Fly

Search This Blog