Everything you always wanted to know about power systems but were too afraid to ask
Part 1 of Malcolm Metcalfe's Power System Primer
There are two distinctly different methods used to balance supply and demand. These are:
- Balancing supply/demand in an isolated system (one that is not interconnected with the larger grid. Examples are local systems to power a remote location).
- Balancing supply/demand in an interconnected system, where a utility is a part of a major interconnection of many utilities.