Can Transmission Ties Be Loosened?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Electric Utilities and Y2K : One Thread

I don't know if this has been addressed here already, since the stack of messages is large, and I have read only a fraction of them.

As a layman in power distribution matters, I wonder if a utility, which (it thinks, at least) has done a good job of Y2K preparation on its own sytem, could not isolate itself from the grid for a short time before 1/1/2000, so that it would not be impacted by another utility which has not done its job.

I would think that it should be possible to plan ahead, so that as much load as possible would be shed and arrangements made to have sufficient generating capacity within the one utility to be self-sufficient for one or a few days. Or, if it normally buys power from another utility, it could make temporary two-way arrangements that would not affect any others. Once the Y2K transition is passed and the grid has proved stable, the connections can be re-established.

There is, of course, a risk attached to not being able to interchange power automatically. But in this case the risk of being on the grid seems much higher. Of course, severe weather at the crucial time might put a crimp in such planning, but why not be as prepared as possible to avoid that domino effect?

I would appreciate hearing from those more knowledgeable.

-- Anonymous, June 19, 1998

Answers

I am an electrician at a coal-unit northeast of Tulsa, Oklahoma. I asked an engineer how they would bring the units I work at up if the national grid failed. He said they could break off into regional grids and start up one at a time. I am assuming by this that they would begin by using their own diesel powered generators and load up the regional grid one at a time. I had read earlier in an article that theoretically the national grid could not be started up if all the units went down. Logically, it would appear to me that no one would attempt to start the national grid until there were enough regional grids established. There seems to be a lot of wheat and chaff in the information place. We need to sift carefully.

-- Anonymous, June 21, 1998

It was mentioned:

"I am an electrician at a coal-unit northeast of Tulsa, Oklahoma. I asked an engineer how they would bring the units I work at up if the national grid failed. He said they could break off into regional grids and start up one at a time."

IF:

1) They, themselves, were totally remediated, (software and embedded chips).

2) They had no burn-outs, (no equipment that failed because of unbalanced loads).

3) They had guaranteed incoming fuel supplies for generation.

4) They had guaranteed ability to pay wages; (there would be some who would volunteer, but not all).

5) Fear and panic in the local neighborhoods of the plant workers didn't cause many to stay home and care for their families.

6) Etc., as there are many unknowns in a situation we have never experienced before.

-- Anonymous, June 22, 1998


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