Part of the Networking and communications glossary:

An electric grid is a network of synchronized power providers and consumers that are connected by transmission and distribution lines and operated by one or more control centers. When most people talk about the power "grid," they're referring to the transmission system for electricity.

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The continental United States does not have a national grid. Instead, there are three grids: the Eastern Interconnect, the Western Interconnect and the Texas Interconnect. In Alaska and Hawaii, several smaller systems interconnect parts of each state. 

Learn more:

The United States Department of Energy's website provides more information about the three electric grids in the continental United States and how they're controlled.

This was last updated in April 2009
Posted by: Margaret Rouse

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