Panel discussion on transmission issues

Relationships between generation and transmission, between planning and operations, and between interconnected utilities have evolved over time, with the resulting processes working reliably in the cooperative atmospheres of vertically integrated utilities. However, forces at work in connection with industry restructuring are acting to break apart these long-standing relationships upon which the reliability of the interconnected transmission grid was built. The results of industry restructuring are causing planning and operating coordination problems, stressing the transmission system infrastructure, and overwhelming both the men and machines responsible for operating the interconnected transmission system. The purpose of this discussion is to explore some of the more significant problems in these areas.