What is a critical action for transmission operators during sudden changes in system load?

During sudden changes in system load, implementing load shedding plans is a critical action for transmission operators. Load shedding is a deliberate process of reducing the electrical load to maintain the stability of the grid and to prevent system overloads or blackouts. When there is a significant and sudden increase in demand that exceeds the available generation resources or transmission capacity, load shedding helps to balance supply and demand effectively.

This action ensures that the overall stability of the electric grid is maintained, as it protects against cascading failures that can lead to widespread outages. Transmission operators need to act quickly to identify which loads can be temporarily disconnected from the system without affecting critical infrastructure or services. By doing so, they can ensure the continued operation of the power grid while addressing these sudden fluctuations in load.