Smart Grid Electrical Distribution Act (Debating)

[TJ in Oregon]

Why maintain the separation of the transmission grids? Is this in the interests of containing blackouts or something? If so, would breaking up the three main grids be worthwhile to discuss?

That's the reason exactly. Having a direct connection without manual switching would increase the chances of a power surge causing a rolling blackout or damaging transmission lines.

Breaking them up further is an interesting idea and in a more perfect world I would like to see many smaller transmission grids connected by manual switching but this bill is plenty expensive enough without re-inventing the wheel.

[TJ in Oregon]

Also, the third clause of Section 1 referring to the ability of local goverments to restrict the grid. What kind of restrictions are implied by that?

This is referring to the distribution grid, which is different from the transmission grid. The transmission grid is the large apparatus that runs from power production to local transmission stations and the distribution grid runs from those stations to the consumer. The reason why I included this provision is limit the nationalization to only the transmission grid (only the part that crosses regional lines and effects the mass delivery across the nation).

Local governments could charge fees, contract private owners, buy power collectively, etc. and I want to make sure such a bill will not prevent them from doing so.

[TJ in Oregon]

To address cost concerns, I'd like to add a provision in the bill to charge utility companies to use the grid. The tax should cover the cost of the investment based on a 3884 billion kW-h annual electricity consumption.

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[TJ in Oregon]

Can power companies opt out, or is this something they'd have to use in order to use any electrical infrastructure?

I'm not sure there's a way of doing this if they want to use the transmission grid (which virtually every one would). How does one transmit power without using the grid?

[TJ in Oregon]

Aye