The problem comes down to the lack of good storage to level the load. With big thermal (coal or nuke) plants the mechanical power applied to the generators has to equal the electrical power delivered to the load (ignoring losses). If more power is put in than goes out the generator speeds up and this really messes up the network.
However, the load from the network is not constant. People turn things on and off. What the utilities do, approximately, is run the big plants at the average expected load. If load starts to increase or decrease, they vary the mechanical input. However, when load gets really high and the plants are maxed out, they bring on "peaking power" from gas turbines. The peaking power is more expensive, so they charge big users more. Basically, the utrilities know the demand will be greater at certain times of the day, so they charge peak rates for the KWH used during tjose times. -John ============= > I really don't understand the 'over consumption' issue when it comes to > utilities. The production of electricity, in part, is related to load. > However, the cost of the generating plant, personnel involved in running > the > operation, maintenance, etc., in other words, fixed costs, are the > substantial part. Therefore, the entity must have a sufficient revenue > stream to keep it operational. > > If you cut utilization, you will have to raise the price of a Kw-Hr. If > enough people produce their own power, and stop utilizing the 'grid' for > power, the cost or 'grid power' will go up to the point that folks being > supported by the government will not be able to afford it. Therefore, in > order to keep electricity affordable, you need to use as much as possible > so > the cost per Kw-Hr is as low as possible. > > This analysis applies to any utility, phone, cable, power, water, etc., > where the charge is on the basis of usage. > > IMO > > Joe > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of J. Forster > Sent: Monday, June 27, 2011 4:49 PM > To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement > Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Three Phase Power > > > IMO, smart meters are a greased, very slippery, slope toward power > rationing > or fines for "overconsumption" > > YMMV, > > -John > > ================ > > >> Will & Bill, > > [snip] > >> Centerpoint Energy has reached the epitome of laziness and is >> converting everyone over to "smart meters" so people can better >> monitor their usage... In reality it does nothing more than offer >> real-time monitoring for the power company, and they no longer have a >> use for meter-readers... > > > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] > To unsubscribe, go to > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there. > > > _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
