Metropolitan electric system development

SINCE 1928 the electric load of metropolitan New York has more than doubled. Served at the beginning by individual companies, the Consolidated Edison System is now completely integrated, operating all but three city-owned power stations in the area. The development of the Edison system has been a gradual process guided by these general fundamental policies: First, to maintain a margin of reserve capacity, determined by probability and designed to provide a minimum but adequate degree of reliability. Figure 1 summarizes system-reserve-calculation results for today and for 1952 after new unit construction. Present plans call for maintenance of 430,000-kw total reserve capacity, about 16 per cent of the 1952 peak hour load.