Understanding the U.S. Grid

[111R]

Can anyone recommend a good resource to learn about the regulatory agencies and types of utilities that exist in the United States? I'm trying to understand the hierarchy and governing agencies that make up the system.

Thanks!

 

[davidbeach]

As compared to where? If you really need to know, you probably already do. If you are that unfamiliar with the US system, what do you hope to accomplish?

 

[electricpete]

Not all encompassing, but a good start maybe here:

http://www.nerc.com/

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(2B)+(2B)' ?

 

[racookpe1978]

electricpete (Electrical):

Somewhat on topic - although this is a "wider-than-usual" topic - ...

I've been challenged on a different website about rolling reserve requirements for wind power vs conventional grid reserves.

What margins are required for operating reserves? I've usually heard 10% of current load, but don't know how wind power's (lack of) stability affects this margin.

 

[MKFPE]

111R,

In addition to NERC, Google FERC, RTO, PJM, "Public Utiltiies Commission", et.c. to learn about the current regulatory nightmare that is the electric power industry in the US today.

RTO = regional transmission organization, an entity authorized by the federal government to manage the reliability of the electric
transmission system and the operation of the wholesale electricity market in a defined control area.

Have fun!

Electricpete,

The RTO manuals available on the web for PJM, ERCOT, et.c. will shed some light on this subject.
Reserve requirements vary a little depending on the generation and transmission system configurations of the various RTOs.
Wind power is currently a tiny fraction of generation (except in Texas) and the variability of output is more of a local system regulation (in an electrical sense) problem than a regional or overall grid problem.
More renewables will make dispatch a little harder as time goes on unless an economical technology for energy storage can be found.