Yet another example of what a reporter can do when the facts are not understood. The speculative headline is catchy but dead wrong.
Back when it was written last summer, there was a plan to deregulate the frequency. The reason it was even proposed is that most clocks now are battery powered and are regulated by crystal oscillators. Power frequency regulation is complicated. Generating plants are told how much power to generate by a central dispatcher. Individual plants do not have precise control of generator frequency because the synchronous generators tied to the common distribution network would fight each other. Presently, the act of changing the amount of power generated in a plant carries the risk of tripping a generator off-line, which can cascade to other generators and other plants due to the step change in power on the network. The networks are too big, and they are designed to fail to protect themselves. Last I knew, the test had been cancelled. Bill Hawkins -----Original Message----- From: Craig S McCartney Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2011 8:49 PM Yet another challenge to proper time-keeping. I think that I will re-calibrate the sundial in my yard and declare it "Montalvo Road Time" (MRT) and darn to those who disagree! http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/utes/52072031-68/clocks-power-grid-electric .html.csp Craig McCartney 160 Montalvo Road Palomar Park, CA 94062 _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.