The Interconnected Power Systems of the Southeast

Many articles have appeared in the press and in scientific magazines during recent years on the super-power systems of the country, and much attention has been directed to what has been called the super-power system of the South eastern States, as illustrating one of the best developed power systems in the United States. S9me of these articles have di1oeusHcd at great length the question of voltage control, switching troubles, and other operating difficulties to be encountered and solved. Others have contained actual set-ups for conditions five to ten years hence, with maps of new lines which should be built, and have included tables showing the vast saving which will annually result in the operation of such a system, such saving being the direct result of improved load factor, concentration of generating capacity in large plants at favourable locations, and utilization to the maximum possible extent of all available water power, even in times of high-water or flood conditions. The saving, expressed in dollars, under some of these plans is so great that there is a marked tendency to become over-enthusiastic as to the immediate need and possibility of the proposed system, and to forget the physical and financial problems involved in making predictions or drawing conclusions.