Tag Archives: Understanding

Understanding Electrical System Components – Basic layout of electrical networks. Voltages and line patterns are typical for German and other European systems.

A power grid (or power grid) is an interconnected network for delivering electricity from producers to consumers. Power grids consist of power plants, power substations to step up or step down voltage, power transmission to move power over long distances, and finally distribution of power to customers. In that final step, the voltage is again stepped down to the required service voltage. Power plants are usually built close to energy sources and away from populated areas. Power grids vary in size and can span entire countries or parts of the world. From small to large, there are microgrids, wide area synchronous networks, and supergrids.

Understanding Electrical System Components

Grids are almost always synchronous, meaning that all distribution areas operate in sync with the three-phase alternating current (AC) frequency … Read the rest

Understanding Electrical Load Demand – Through the support and participation of its member cooperatives and respective municipalities, manages a demand response program that is the best in the electric utility industry.

Beginning in 1977, the Demand Response Program is voluntary for consumers who allow remote control, electric heaters and other interruptible loads to be turned off in exchange for discounted retail electricity rates. This capability makes it possible to manage existing power sources efficiently and avoid the need to acquire new sources of power generation that are very expensive.

Understanding Electrical Load Demand

The program is popular with about 50,000 consumers participating. Loads typically involved in the program are dual oil heating systems, water heaters, storage heaters and commercial loads with backup generators. When needed, approximately 80 MW in summer and 350 MW in winter can be interrupted from a control center in Grand Forks.

Using Demand Side Management (dsm)