The Alaska Interconnection ( ASCC ) is an AC power transmission grid in North America that serves Central and Southeast Alaska . While the Alaska Interconnection is often referred to as one interconnected grid, its two parts are not connected to each other through interconnectors , nor are the two grids connected to any other interconnection, making the grids in Alaska isolated circuits. Both grids, though, are managed by the Alaska Systems Coordinating Council (ASCC) as if they were one entity like the other interconnections in North America. ASCC was formed in 1983 and is an affiliate North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) member.
7-724: The Alaska Interconnection is the smallest individual power transmission grid in North America compared to the three other major interconnections – the Western Interconnection , the Eastern Interconnection , and the Texas Interconnection – both in physical area and electricity generated. In 2015, the Alaska interconnection generated 2,601 gigawatt hours of electricity, with natural gas accounting for 1,219 GWh, while
14-668: A controlled flow of energy while also functionally isolating the independent AC frequencies of each side. There are six DC ties to the Eastern Interconnection in the US and one in Canada, and there are proposals to add four additional ties. It is not tied to the Alaska Interconnection. In 2015, WECC had an energy consumption of 883 TWh, roughly equally distributed between industrial, commercial and residential consumption. There
21-579: A synchronized frequency of 60 Hz. The Western Interconnection stretches from Western Canada south to Baja California in Mexico , reaching eastward over the Rockies to the Great Plains . Interconnections can be tied to each other via high-voltage direct current power transmission lines ( DC ties ) such as the north-south Pacific DC Intertie , or with variable-frequency transformers (VFTs), which permit
28-744: Is a wide area synchronous grid and one of the two major alternating current (AC) power grids in the North American power transmission grid . The other major wide area synchronous grid is the Eastern Interconnection . The minor interconnections are the Québec Interconnection , the Texas Interconnection , and the Alaska Interconnections . All of the electric utilities in the Western Interconnection are electrically tied together during normal system conditions and operate at
35-461: The US State of Washington alone – part of the Western Interconnection – generated 47,385 GWh. While both parts of the Alaska Interconnection have no connection to remaining interconnections of North America, all generating units connected to both of its grids generate at a synchronous speed of 60 Hz , the frequency common to North America. Electricity is also delivered to homes and small businesses in
42-652: The same manner as in Canada and the contiguous United States with a split-phase 120/240 volt service. In 2014, an interconnector to the Western Interconnection of British Columbia was proposed to the Alaska Energy Authority in order to bring cleaner, cheaper power to Alaska, but as of 2016, no further work on the project had been completed due to economic feasibility. Because the transmission networks in Alaska are isolated from other interconnections in North America, average rates for electricity are $ 0.18 per kWh –
49-504: The second highest price in the United States after Hawaii, whose average residential rate is $ 0.37 per kWh. In contrast, the average rate for electricity in the 48 contiguous states is $ 0.10 per kWh. This article about electric power is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This Alaska-related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Western Interconnection The Western Interconnection
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