BUILDING A STRONGER GRID

The US electric grid is the cornerstone of one of the world's most technologically sophisticated economies. This engineering feat includes more than 200,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines, supports more than 1,100 gigawatts of generating capacity, and serves 314 million people. While...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inElectric Perspectives Vol. 39; no. 5; p. 32
Main Author Wood, Elisa
Format Trade Publication Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Washington Edison Electric Institute 01.09.2014
Subjects
Electric power lines
Electric utilities
Electricity distribution
Electricity generation
Power reliability
United States > US
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Summary:The US electric grid is the cornerstone of one of the world's most technologically sophisticated economies. This engineering feat includes more than 200,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines, supports more than 1,100 gigawatts of generating capacity, and serves 314 million people. While the grid has served the country reliably for decades, society is increasing its demands on the system, and the electric utility industry is responding. With an estimated $17.2 billion in transmission investment this year (and $60.6 billion through 2024), Edison Electric Institute members are maintaining the grid's characteristic high reliability, as well as strengthening, expanding, and enhancing the transmission system. To remain cost-effective and reliable, the industry must be able to deliver the optimal mix of supply at the right time along the most efficient path. With older plants closing and new plants being sited in different areas, alternate transmission routes must sometimes be established to move generation from where it is produced to where it is used.
ISSN:0364-474X
1930-3998