Skip to main content

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

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Most Popular of All Time

Resurrecting the '90s Graphite

Let’s face it, there’s a certain danger in reading John Gierach's Trout Bum . His wit, self-deprecation, and sharp, effortless satire are entirely infectious. If you aren't careful, his words will inspire you to drop everything, wade into a freezing river, and try to outsmart a creature with a brain the size of a lentil. In my case, re-reading Gierach recently didn't send me straight to the river. It sent me digging through the dusty, spider-guarded corners of my garage. In the early 1990s, seeking a natural escape from Manhattan's concrete canyons, I decided to learn to cast a fly rod. I bought an Orvis Rocky Mountain —eight-and-a-half feet, three ounces, built for a five-weight line—and had absolutely no idea how to use it. To avoid aimlessly whipping the water like scrambling eggs, I took fly-fishing lessons from Al Cucci, co-author of Hatches , on the Delaware River. With his guidance, I fished renowned waters: the AuSable in New York and Michigan, and New Jersey...
Post a Comment
Read more

A B+ Kind of Life

Welcome back to this week's On the Fly . Retirement has taught me something unexpected: life gets a lot more enjoyable when you stop chasing perfection. Lately, I've been having an absolute blast playing executive par-3 courses like Rancho Carlsbad . A short iron, a sunny morning, and nowhere to be except the next tee—that's my kind of day. This Thursday, though, I'm raising the stakes. I'm heading to The Links at Lakehouse in San Marcos, a full-size par-71 course with enough water hazards to keep the local fish well-stocked with my golf balls. After shooting a 64 on a par-3 course, I've set myself a new goal: shoot an 89 before my birthday next August. Why 89? Because on a par-71 course, that's bogey golf—one extra stroke per hole. For non-golfers, think of it this way: par is like earning 100% on a final exam. Bogey golf is a solid B+. You got the job done, learned something, and probably had a lot more fun getting there. The older I get, the more I appre...
Post a Comment
Read more

From Mailbox to Microphone

In this episode, catching up with Sierra . What happens when you combine a little imagination, modern digital tools, and the willingness to make a glorious, muddy mess? You get our guest’s latest project. I’m Patrick Ball. Welcome back to On the Fly . Today, we are diving into the world of native plants and guerrilla gardening with twelve-year-old creator Sierra. After watching her impressive, self-produced tutorial on how to make ‘Seed Balls,’ I had to know how she did it. It’s incredibly inspiring to watch Sierra evolve from a young artist wielding crayons and stationery into a savvy digital creator. She’s writing scripts, mastering voiceovers, and editing—all to make a positive, green impact on her local community. “She shoots, she scores, and she’s here to tell us all about it.” Please welcome Sierra to On the Fly ! Let’s get into it. Audio interview . . . For more blog posts showcasing Sierra’s talents, see: The Mailbox Surprise . . . and The Summer Surprise I’m Patrick Ball. Sta...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Birth of a Cubs Legend

In this episode, The 162-Game Exhale — and the Birth of a Cubs Legend There’s a hush in the baseball world on Game 162 — a collective breath drawn in and slowly released. Scoreboards stop flipping. Dugouts empty. For six months, the game has been our steady heartbeat, pulsing from the cherry blossoms of Tokyo in March to the crisp, playoff-charged winds of late September. And now, as the regular season exhales, baseball fans everywhere pause to absorb the story we’ve just lived. For me, that story has been deeply personal. This season unfolded in the rhythms of my daily life. It was the summer soundtrack echoing beneath the constant turmoil of politics and sensational headlines. It was a handful of carefully chosen ballpark pilgrimages stitched together with countless nights in front of MLB.TV. And at the center of it all, for a lifelong Cubs fan like me, it revolved around one name — a young center fielder who turned hope into history: Pete Crow-Armstrong. The 2025 season didn’t begin...
Post a Comment
Read more