I have the hardback, which is 422 pages with acknowledgments, endnotes, etc. It’s well-written and moves along through the topic, but you do need to pay attention. The author looks at the electrical grid largely, but not exclusively, through the lens of the northeastern U.S. and parts of Canada. The author is clearly quite knowledgeable about the topic. I’ll touch on a few points in the book while encouraging you to read the book to get its full range.
First, RTO refers to regional transmission organization. “In the RTO areas, no group or agency has the responsibility for grid reliability.” … “In RTO areas, the grid is becoming more fragile and more expensive.” …”What about the ‘free market,’ which could conceivably use its invisible hand to bring reliable electricity to the customers? There is no free market. There are false markets, ruled by insider decisions.” Page 5. Keep this thought in mind.
Another complicating factor is that electricity must be made and consumed in real time. “The requirements for electricity on the grid are neither constant nor fully predictable, and electricity must be manufactured and then used within milliseconds.” Page 25. Actually milliseconds may be too long. So getting the balancing of the productions dna demand for electricity for electricity right is very important.
When the grid was managed by vertically integrated Utility owned power plants and distribution lines, their return was based on what they spent on their facilities. Their incentives were to spend “whatever it takes’ to keep their facilities in top shape. This led to much high electrical prices. Reliable, but expensive, electricity. Pages 35-36. Deregulation solved this problem, but reliability became an issue.
Regulations followed. In the Northeast in Chapter 18 the author looks at the regulatory rules effects on reliability. The author observes: “Because resources that do not contribute to system reliability during scarcity conditions earn the same capacity payments as resources that do, it is profitable for resources wiht low costs and poor performance during scarcity conditions to remain in the capacity market.” Page116. This has the effect of displacing better performing and better maintained resources.
It gets cold in the Northeast. Storing oil could alleviate price spikes, but to store oil costs the generator money up=front. “Keeping file on hand is a lose-lose game for the generator. Upfront expenditures will lower future revenues.: Page 145.
The book looks at renewable power sources which doesn’t make life simpler. The author is not opposed to renewables; renewables just don’t make a reliable grid simpler. See the section entitled “Renewables on the Grid” beginning with Chapter 26 on page 183. Chapter 28 looks at “Three Issues with Renewables”.I would encourage you to read this section with an open mind. The author is not opposed to renewables, but she does recognize certain practical realities with renewables (the sun doesn’t always shine and the wind doesn’t always blow, among other things.). Renewables require a significant overbuilding of capacity to provide reliable electricity. See page. 217.
Ultimately the book observes the that electrical grid is the largest machine on earth. Page 281. Managing this machine is a massive undertaking. The more complex the regulatory scheme the more likely unintended negative consequences will arise.
The book caused me to consider carefully my relation to electricity. I really depend on a reliable source of electricity to live my life in the way I wish. I recommend the book highly. Consider the regulatory, generator, transmission system and consumer perspectives. I found the book informative and balanced. Read it.
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Well done! Renewable or fossil fuels is interesting - but you have to have a grid to run them.
This was a fantastic look into the "Grid." Energy is a very divisive conversation between the renewable camp and the traditional fossil fuel groups. You need the "Grid" and a properly designed grid to operate both. Meredith hits this book out of the park, and I enjoyed my interview with her on my podcast.Get the book if you want to know how energy is delivered to your house and the complex machinery and great people that work in the energy space. - Thanks for stopping by my podcast - Stu
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Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2023
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2022
Get the book if you want to know how energy is delivered to your house and the complex machinery and great people that work in the energy space. - Thanks for stopping by my podcast - Stu
Well done! Renewable or fossil fuels is interesting - but you have to have a grid to run them.
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2022
This was a fantastic look into the "Grid." Energy is a very divisive conversation between the renewable camp and the traditional fossil fuel groups. You need the "Grid" and a properly designed grid to operate both. Meredith hits this book out of the park, and I enjoyed my interview with her on my podcast.Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2022
Get the book if you want to know how energy is delivered to your house and the complex machinery and great people that work in the energy space. - Thanks for stopping by my podcast - Stu
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Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2022
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2022
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2021
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J Assheton
How to bureaucratise an industry to death! God help the USA. Fascinating!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 2, 2021