For power systems, geography doesn't matter, but electrical structure does

Abstract

In a national grid, where should a new power generating plant be built? In a competive electricity market, why do wholesale prices for electricity vary between regions? Such innocent questions are often met with rather involved technical and economic answers. How can a more accessible understanding of power grids be articulated, suitable even for a non technical audience? This article discusses one potentially helpful step in this direction: drawing power network diagrams in an electrically meaningful way, rather than using geographic maps that can obscure their inherent structure.In a national grid, where should a new power generating plant be built? In a competive electricity market, why do wholesale prices for electricity vary between regions? Such innocent questions are often met with rather involved technical and economic answers. How can a more accessible understanding of power grids be articulated, suitable even for a non technical audience? This article discusses one potentially helpful step in this direction: drawing power network diagrams in an electrically meaningful way, rather than using geographic maps that can obscure their inherent structure.