National electric power grid. [Advantages and disadvantages]
Legislation has been introduced in both houses of Congress to establish a national electric power grid. The author favors this controversial legislation for the following reasons: it will (1) reduce the cost of electric energy; (2) become a major energy conservation measure which, through operation of the most-efficient power plants, will reduce the fuel bill of this country; (3) increase the reliability of our energy supply, and reduce the blackouts and brownouts to a minimum; (4) make possible the utilization of the diversities of the electric power supply due to seasonal variations, different weather conditions in different parts of the country, and due to clock-time differences in the different time zones; (5) introduce competition into the investor-owned utilities, which will compete for wholesales into the national grid; (6) allow better utilization of generating capacities, and thereby reduce the required reserve capacity by 1 to 3%, and possibly even by as much as 20%; (7) avoid duplication of facilities and misallocations of national resources; (8) reduce environmental damages to a minimum; and (9) make possible the realization of economies of scale and economies of coordination to the maximal possible extent. Almost the entire power industry is opposed to the national grid, according to the author. Privately owned utilities, generating about 85% of the total electric energy of this country, are vigorously opposed to the national grid and are likely to put up every conceivable defense against it.
- Research Organization:
- New Jersey Inst. of Tech., Newark
- OSTI ID:
- 5284954
- Journal Information:
- Public Util. Fortn.; (United States), Vol. 100:13
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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