The nation's need for reliable and affordable electricity have been seriously challenged over the last decade. Though restructuring has resulted in increased sales through wholesale power markets and more recently in increased generating capacity, the current transmission infrastructure is incurring higher stresses as demands push system capabilities to their limits.

Restructuring is having a profound impact on the electric power industry. Electricity is the ultimate "real-time" product, with its production, transportation, and consumption occurring within a fraction of a second. Because electricity moves at nearly the speed of light and cannot be readily stored, bulk-power systems must maintain a continuous and near-instantaneous balance between production and consumption. Any restructuring of the industry must respect the unchanging physical laws that constrain power system operations.

Our Research

Oak Ridge National Laboratory provides key technical support and expertise in helping the U.S. electric power industry effectively manage the transition to restructuring and in supporting development of the new transmission system of tomorrow.

Perhaps ORNL's biggest asset is its understanding of the technical, economic, and commercial concerns with restructuring from multiple perspectives: those of generators, system operators, transmission owners, vertically integrated utilities, public power entities, regulators, power marketers, and load. It is important to get the engineering and the economics correct as they strongly interact. We have worked with organizations from each of these backgrounds, helping them to understand the requirements of other market segments while maximizing their own profits. With no vested market position we are able to help all segments of the industry.

ORNL's research is funded through DOE's Office of Electricity Delivery & Energy Reliability. Major research and technical assistance is offered in the following areas:

For more information, contact Brendan Kirby at 865-576-1768, or e-mail kirbybj@ornl.gov.