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

Night Before Christmas

I n this episode, Night Before Christmas . . .  (In the spirit of Edgar Albert Guest) I’ve wrestled with the tangled lights the way I always do— With just enough patience left to see the project through. I climb the ladder carefully; the years have taught me how. To take my time with every step and keep a steady brow. We hang the faded ornaments I’ve known since I was small, the chipped, the cracked, the tilted ones—I love them best of all. Santa’s lost a bit of paint, the stars’ leaning right, but oh, it casts a holy glow across the room tonight. The kitchen hums with activity, with laughter, and with cheer, as voices drift like echoes from a long-forgotten year. The floor is strewn with paper scraps, the clock is ticking slow, As Christmas finds its own sweet pace and sets our house aglow. The hallway grows a little still; the lights are dimmed, and low, Small shoes are lined in messy pairs to wait for morning’s snow. The fire's warm, the room is full, the world is deep and wide,...
2 comments
Read more

Un-Work the Old-Fashioned Way

🎩   In this special episode. How to Un-Work the Old-Fashioned Way It’s 2026! Yes— this is the year! A different kind of start—you feel it right here? No lists! No demands! No fix-all-your-flaws! No “New You by Tuesday!” No rules! No laws! Those resolutions? Bah! Dusty and dry! We’ve tried fixing everything —so let’s ask why. Why rush and correct and improve and compare, When noticing quietly gets you right there ? So here’s a new project—no charts, no clocks, No boxes to check in your mental inbox. It’s bigger than busy and smaller than grand, It’s called Un-Working —now give me your hand! Un-Working’s not quitting or hiding away, It’s setting things down that shout “Hurry! Hey!” The hustle! The bustle! The faster-than-fast! The gotta-win-now or you’re stuck in the past! That’s the work of Un-Working— plop! —set it free! The titles! The labels! The “Look-At-Me!” The crown that kept sliding and pinching your head— You never looked comfy . . . let’s try this instead: Pick up a tel...
Post a Comment
Read more

How to Catch A Reindeer–Christmas 2025

🎧 In this episode, How to Catch A Reindeer Merry Christmas, everyone — and welcome to this year's special holiday edition of On the Fly! Since 2020, Lori and I have been happily creating a special Christmas gift for our nephews, nieces, and close friends: a children's story recorded in our voices, filled with delightful sound effects, music, and just the right touch of seasonal magic to make Santa smile. It's become one of our most cherished traditions — and honestly, it's way easier than trying to wrap a real reindeer! Over the years, we've shared some favorite classics: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, The Night Before Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Santa's Toy Shop. (We've created our own North Pole audiobook library.) This year, we're excited to introduce a new book:  How to Catch a Reindeer  by Alice Walstead. And let me tell you — this one is a ride. It's a high-flying, whimsical Christmas Eve chase starrin...
1 comment
Read more

The Great Un-Working

In this episode. 2026—The Year of the Great Un-Working Welcome to On the Fly . If you’re new here, this is a place for noticing—the small, easily missed moments that quietly turn out to matter. It’s part reflection, part curiosity, and occasionally part grease-stained bicycle rag. If you’re searching for life hacks, hustle culture, or a seven-step plan to optimize your morning coffee, you may have taxied onto the wrong runway. But if you’ve ever felt the itch to slow down and look around—welcome aboard. We begin 2026 by analyzing the blog post below. Traditional resolutions are often just "re-work"—tasks we assign ourselves to become more efficient cogs. In the 2026 era of Un-Working, a resolution isn't a goal; it’s an unlearning. Join Jim & Chloe, our AI analysis team, with the help of NotebookLM, as they unpack, explore, and expand on this blog post. Happy 2026! If you’re like us, you spent the last week of 2025 doing three things remarkably well:  Avoiding unfinish...
Post a Comment
Read more