I saw a map of the USA.It was shaded 4 different colors to show which States are linked. I did'nt bookmark the site and am trying to find itagain. Any help appreciated!

-- Anonymous, April 02, 1999

Answers

I used to have a good link, which I can't find right now, I must have accidentally archived it, however, I ran across this link you may be interested in - which maps all the nuclear plants in the world. It is really interesting. I know it's not what you were looking for, but it is well worth looking at.

-- Anonymous, April 03, 1999

I used to have a good link, which I can't find right now, I must have accidentally archived it, however, I ran across this link you may be interested in - which maps all the nuclear plants in the world. It is really interesting. I know it's not what you were looking for, but it is well worth looking at.

Sorry, I forgot to give you the link http://www.insc.anl.gov/maps/world.html

-- Anonymous, April 03, 1999

Joyce, there is a map of the ten NERC Regions (which are basically administrative in function) and also a map of the three Interconnections (grids) at:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/chg_str/chapter3.html

You'll have to scroll down the page to find them, as they are interspersed with explanations and other info.

There is also a map of the three grids in Appendix A, page 7, of the NERC Jan. 11 Y2K Report to the DOE. You'll need an Adobe Acrobat reader to access this but the link can be found at:

http://www.nerc.com/y2k

Since you mentioned "4" different colors, you might be referring to the four NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) Regions. You should be aware that these are not "grids". The four NRC regions have no relationship to the nation's electrical transmission grid. They are purely an administrative invention -- a way of assigning responsibility for oversight of nuclear power plants to the four offices. A map of these four NRC Regions can be found at:

http://www.nrc.gov/OPA/brochure/regnuc.htm

In summary, there are 4 NRC Regions and 10 NERC Regions. These are administrative. The actual "grids" which individual utilities are an integrated part of, are called Interconnections and they number three in the continental U.S. (The Eastern, Western, and Ercot Interconnections.) The three Interconnections also include parts of Canada and Mexico.

-- Anonymous, April 05, 1999

Bonnie, As I understand it, the 4th grid is Quebec.

-- Anonymous, April 06, 1999

xBob, you're right about Quebec, but that distinction has undergone a change in recent times. There's a footnote on page 6 of Appendix A in the NERC Report to the DOE mentioned above. It says:

"Quebec, Canada was previously described as a fourth Interconnection in North America. Although Quebec still does not operate synchronously within the Eastern Interconnection, modifications made to its electrical system including the strength of its HVDC ties to New England and New York are the basis for recently incorporating Quebec into the Eastern Interconnection. Quebec operates to the same reliability standards as other utilites in the Northeast Power Coordinating Council."

Frankly, there are so many changes going on in the industry, not only through utility mergers but with NERC (soon to be NAERO?) that it's next to impossible to sort everything out. Standard bureaucratic idiocies and room for improvement aside, I think NERC has done a better than average coordinating job considering how fluid the utility industry is right now. I certainly wouldn't want their job.

My time is short so instead of doing another post I'll also add here that you're right about the three cheers for my "battle-axe" teacher. I had easy-to-get-along-with, undemanding teachers and I had brook-no-nonsense tough ones. When you got an A from the tough ones, you knew you'd earned every point! Those teachers did not settle for less than my best and I have benefited from their instruction all my life. There were also a couple who were both friendly, interesting *and* demanding; gems encountered on the path of life and remembered with gratitude.

-- Anonymous, April 07, 1999