Managing the electric grid is similar to managing air traffic. Air traffic controllers are responsible for moving people from point A to point B safely and reliably 24/7/365. They don’t own the airplanes, they don’t own the runways, they don’t own anything.
Instead of moving people, MISO operators are responsible for moving electricity. From where it is generated, to your local utilities. MISO doesn’t own the generators, the transmission lines, or any part of the electric grid.
MISO’s role as a grid operator is to manage the generation and transmission of high-voltage electricity across its region. We make sure the right amount of electricity is generated and transmitted to member utilities reliably and at the lowest possible cost 24/7/365. The utilities are responsible for delivering the power to their customers.
The graphic below illustrates MISO's role (numbers 1 & 2 Generation and Transmission) along with the role of each member utility (numbers 3 & 4 Distribution and Final Delivery).
Understanding Power Grid Outages
In the airline industry, when planes break down flights get canceled. Passengers are stuck. While the airlines fix the issue, air traffic controllers continue moving as many planes and people as possible. However, there are rare occurances when circumstanses require air traffic controllers to ground large numbers of planes.
On the bulk electric grid, it's not uncommon for generators to stop working or for transmission lines to go down. While the equipment owners fix the problem, MISO operators work to keep power flowing to the greatest number of people. In rare situations when the supply of electricity can no longer meet consumer demand, MISO may be forced to implement power interruptions. If that is necesssary, MISO determines how much electricity needs to be cut and which of its member utilities will be impacted. It is up to the utilities to decide which of their customers will temporarily lose power and to then cut the power.
Similar to grounding planes, controlled outages are always a last resort measure. They are implemented to protect the electric grid from being damaged and to keep power flowing to as many people as possible.
