Late that morning, as the mercury hit the mid-90s and air conditioners cranked on across the region, electrical grid operators anxiously watched the demand needle.

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But it cautioned that the schedule could be delayed if the region's power grid is unstable or if further complications prevent the restart of equipment.

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When deployed across an entire region or interconnection, phasors provide a precise picture of grid stability.

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The war of grid references might be comical were it not for the increasingly high stakes in the region.

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The ability to move power from one region to another for competitive markets further exacerbates the issue and stresses the grid.

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That way grid operators could, say, automatically lower the cost of transmitting power from a region with excess to capacity to one with a shortage, instead of letting the problem fester until the peaker plants turn on and phone calls and faxes fly.

FORBES: Juicing the System

The new locomotives are designed for easier maintenance, will improve energy efficiency by using a regenerative braking system that will feed energy back into the power grid and will enhance mobility for the people, businesses and economy of the entire Northeast region.

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