Grid operation requires balancing electricity demand and resources 24/7/365. To do this successfully, there are two essential factors that must be secured, stabilized and balanced at all times:
To keep the system in balance, utilities and RTOs continuously monitor the electric system, reacting to changes in demand, equipment malfunctions, changing weather, and other factors to maintain safe and reliable service while meeting customer needs for electricity when and where it’s needed.
Acting as a decision-maker and data clearinghouse, RTOs use robust, sophisticated computer algorithms to forecast electricity demand each hour, each day. As actual demand or system conditions change throughout the day, RTOs evaluate the data they receive from their member utilities to adjust the generation resources while maintaining the transmission system within safe operating levels.
Learn more about these RTO balancing acts: