Living on the Grid: The Fundamentals of the North American Electric Grids in Simple Language

by William L. Thompson

There’s probably a good chance that you’ve turned on your television, computer, or an appliance without giving much thought about the electric grid.But when there’s a power outage, it’s a different story. Suddenly, you’re asking yourself questions such is the electric grid and who owns it?Who controls the grid and how is it controlled?What causes a grid blackout?What is the future of the grid?William L. Thompson, who retired from Dominion Virginia Power after thirty-eight years in the electric business, answers those questions and many more in this book for anyone curious about the electric grid and how it works.In plain, simple language, he reveals what goes on behind the scenes at grid control centers across the country. He also explains how electricity is generated through renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.He also examines the causes behind the largest blackout in United States history and how global warming and technological developments could permanently change Living on the Grid.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Technology

220 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 21, 2016

Reviews

[Nick dorshorst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written and did a great job simplifying complex systems

[Eric D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since I read Bret Victor's "What a technologist can do about climate change" and learned about the extent of Tesla's ambitions, I started wondering how hard it would be for the US to transition to a "smart grid" future, and whether startups could really move the needle. Thompson gives an insightful practitioner's view of how the grid came to be, what the major components are, and how much work it takes to reliably get 60Hz and 120V every time you plug in to a socket. As consumers it's easy to take everything for granted and get upset every time there's a power outage--without realizing how price ceilings drive utility companies to trim tree-trimming budgets, or how inconsistent laws and regulations make inter-state coordination difficult, or how commodity pricing models break with a resource that has a shelf life of 0 seconds. Utility companies don't have a flattering public image, so one might expect Thompson to frustrations with cludgy software, stubborn bureaucracy, or decrepit infrastructure. Instead, his book shows an engineer's fondness and respect for the grid and those who work so hard to keep the lights on, feeding an insatiable societal need for ever more electricity.

It's a niche book for sure, which makes me all the more appreciative that Thompson took the time to write it.

[William T · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written book about an important subject, but not one frequently explored or understood. I don't expect it to be widely read, but if my understanding of the industry is correct, the book remains very relevant today. Of course, it does take a special curiosity for the average citizen to be interested in the grid! Like so many things in our lives we take it for granted. I have thought about the electricity business, of which the grid is a part, during this Covid period, and always was grateful that this essential service remained staffed, managed and working. Thank you to the author and others in the industry.

[Judy Kane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Thompson does an excellent job keeping the material on a high level (which must have been a challenge given his obviously extensive knowledge of the subject) and still providing a really good overview of the various components and related considerations. The book is well-written and well-organized. There are also interesting anecdotes and useful analogies. I'd recommend this book to anyone wanting to get a general understanding about how our electricity gets to us, and also to electrical engineers (for the big picture), employees of companies directly involved, and politicians and their aides so that they can understand the impact of legislature.

[Anne Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-written, clear, and concise book describing the workings of our nation's electrical grids. Written by an industry insider, the reader will come away with new insights into how electricity gets from generating plants to the home, how problems that arise in that process get solved, and even how the rare grid blackout occurs. I believe that anyone who reads this book will have greater patience and understanding when things do go wrong as well as understand some of the modern-day threats to this all-important infrastructure. Kudos, Mr. Thompson, for a book well done!

[Meredith Angwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear description of the past and future grid

The very knowledgable author has simple descriptions of the physics of the grid, and great anecdotes and examples about policies that effect grid operation. A fine book by an author who tells the story of the grid like it is, not as we imagine it should be.

[Satvik · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfect book for anyone looking for a semi-technical and intuitive introduction to how a grid actually works. Written by a grid operator himself, the book is a structured presentation of every aspect of the grid, right from the basics of energy to how the market for electricity works. The anecdotes recited by the author from his time in the control room are very interesting!

[Eric Leubner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent primer on North American electric grids. Written in a casual style by longtime professional in the field—not by a writer or academic. I found Thompson's style easy to digest while remaining very informative.

[William Carleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really I should give this a five for how much I enjoyed this book and how much I learned from it.

[Kris Schnee · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a layman with a basic knowledge of engineering, I learned a lot from this book. It covers both the theory of how a power grid works, in reasonably simple terms (given that it's such a complex subject), and the author's personal experience of the real-world problems the grid managers have to deal with. Not the most exciting book compared to some history-of-science books I've been reading, but I'd still recommend it to anybody who wants an overview of the subject. It'd be great for students in electrical or industrial engineering too.

[Mitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Overview

This book does a great job of doing exactly what the title indicates, providing a compressive overview of the us electrical grid

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A splendid short and sweet introduction to the electrical grid that covers the United States.