“Synchronized at the load”: A symposium on New York city 60-cycle power system connections

Under our modern conditions it has become a common experience to have certain improvements adopted as necessities, although at some earlier time they would have been classed as extreme luxuries. Electrical service rendered by metropolitan public utility companies in recent years has evolved into one of these necessities due to the change in customs and in living conditions of the American people. In the initial stages of development, while the central station industry was taking the preliminary steps to establish itself in the commercial field, its product being expensive was purchased only where it could be indulged in as a luxury. During this period, methods of utilization of electrical service were very limited, being confined almost entirely to illumination. Such electric systems as existed were small, and the problem of their continuity was not of major importance. Disturbance and even interruption to customers´ supply was a regrettable but not a vital incident. Cost of energy was the principal consideration rather than the reliability of supply, particularly where strong competition with other established forms of service was to be expected. As the art developed, many efforts were made to improve the quality of service in order to make a more salable product; nevertheless some interruptions were still experienced and were usually considered a necessary evil. With a much improved, but less expensive product, other competing methods of supply gradually became obsolete, leaving the central station alone in its field with an obligation to render the best possible service. Then interruptions could no longer be considered minor incidents.