The U.S.
electric grid is a complex network of independently owned and operated
power plants and transmission lines.
The electric
grid delivers electricity from points of generation to consumers, and the
electricity delivery network functions via two primary systems: the
transmission system and the distribution system. The transmission system
delivers electricity from power plants to distribution substations, while
the distribution system delivers electricity from distribution substations
to consumers. The grid also encompasses myriads of local area networks
that use distributed energy resources to serve local loads and/or to meet
specific application requirements for remote power, village or district
power, premium power, and critical loads protection.
It is important to note that there
is no "national power grid" in the United States. In fact, the
continental United States is divided into three main power grids:
The Eastern Interconnected
System, or the Eastern Interconnect
The Western Interconnected
System, or the Western Interconnect
The Texas Interconnected
System, or the Texas Interconnect
Department
Of Energy Graphic
ECAR - East
Central Area Reliability Coordination Agreement
ERCOT - Electric Reliability Council of Texas
FRCC - Florida Reliability Coordinating Council
MAAC - Mid-Atlantic Area Council
MAIN - Mid-America Interconnected Network
MAPP - Mid-Continent Area Power Pool
NPCC - Northeast Power Coordinating Council
SERC - Southeastern Electric Reliability Council
SPP - Southwest Power Pool
WSCC - Western Systems Coordinating Council
North American Electric
Reliability Council (NERC) Regions and Subregions
ECAR - East Central Area Reliability
Coordination Agreement ERCOT - Electric Reliability Council of Texas FRCC - Florida Reliability Coordinating Council MAAC - Mid-Atlantic Area Council MAIN - Mid-America Interconnected Network MAPP - Mid-Continent Area Power Pool
MAPP U.S.
MAPP Canada NPCC - Northwest Power Coordinating Council
Quebec
Ontario
Maritime
ISO New England
New York
SERC - Southeastern Electric Reliability
Council
TVA
Southern
VACAR
Entergy SPP - Southwest Power Pool
SPP Northern
SPP Southern WSCC - Western Systems Coordinating Council
CA
NWPP
RMPA
AZNMSNV
The Eastern and Western
Interconnects have limited interconnections to each other, and the Texas
Interconnect is only linked to the others via direct current lines. Both the
Western and Texas Interconnects are linked with Mexico, and the Eastern and
Western Interconnects are strongly interconnected with Canada. All electric
utilities in the mainland United States are connected to at least one other
utility via these power grids.
The grid systems in Hawaii and
Alaska are much different than on the U.S. mainland. Alaska has an
interconnected grid system, but it connects only Anchorage, Fairbanks, and the
Kenai Peninsula. Much of the rest of the state depends on small diesel
generators, although there are a few minigrids in the state as well. Hawaii
also depends on minigrids to serve each island's inhabitants.
Power grids are inherently
prone to big blackouts. The United States's electric power grid is growing
increasingly complex and interconnected, with a greater number of power buyers
and sellers making a burgeoning number of transactions.
The U.S. power grid is
outmoded, with too few transmission lines to handle Americans' ever-growing
appetite for electricity.
Data
compiled from The British Antarctic Study, NASA, Environment Canada,
UNEP, EPA and other sources as stated and credited Researched by Charles
Welch-Updated daily This Website is a project of the The Ozone Hole Inc.
a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization http://www.theozonehole.com
