Preface

Disclaimer, acronyms, and change log

Disclaimer

Language itself is inherently ambiguous, and the terminologies in power systems are no exception. Inspired by a talk titled “Definitions of Smart Grids a Decade Ago – What Has Changed?” that began on Power-Globe in 2024, I decided to excerpt terminologies from papers, standards, reports, and other traceable sources to build a wiki for my own reference. For any suggestions or corrections, please email me at jinninggm@gmail.com with the subject line Suggestion on Power Systems Wiki. Thank you!

What this wiki does not intend to be:

  • A primary reference. Most of the items are excerpted from the sources, and original sources should be referred to for more details.
  • Comprehensive. Given my limited attentation, I may have missed some important terminologies. Please feel free to suggest any missing items.
  • Authoritative. Unlike rigorously proven mathematical theories, I consider these terminologies to be a common language that facilitates easy communication in engineering practice.
  • Up-to-date. As the terminologies in power systems are often subject to interpretation and change, I cannot guarantee that the information here is the most recent and accurate.

Wiki-wide Acronyms

BES Bulk Electric System
BPS Bulk Power System
HVDC High Voltage Direct Current
FACTS Flexible Alternating Current Transmission System
IBR Inverter-Based Resources
DER Distributed Energy Resources
GSF Generator Shift Factor
AGC Automatic Generation Control
ACE Area Control Error
FERC Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
NERC North American Electric Reliability Corporation
EPRI Electric Power Research Institute
IEC International Electrotechnical Commission

2025

01-29

  • Add items: synchronous machine, virtual synchronous machine, subsynchronous resonance
  • Add items: Torsional Resonance and Electrical Resonance

01-28

  • Add a definition of Falut Ride-through by IEEE into the item of Ride-through
  • Add items: black-start, synchronization

01-27

  • Refactor into item-based structure

01-22

  • Add an item of Fast Frequency Response by ERCOT in section Frequency
  • Add an item of BPS by IEEE in section Power Grids
  • Add an item of Critical Inertia by ERCOT in section Frequency
  • Add an item of ride-through in section Frequency

01-19

  • Add a section of Load and item of Co-Located Load

01-18

  • Add a Disclaimer section at the beginning
  • Add a section of Oscillation

01-16

  • Add section of Uncertainty

01-15

  • Add section of Transmission Expansion and Interconnection

01-13

  • Add Transmission Operations section
  • Simplify the item of Bulk Electric System
  • Add page numbers for some items

01-12

  • Add definition of DER by IEEE Std 1547-2018
  • Add Transient Stability Index section

01-09

  • Add Data Formats section
  • Add Vendors section

2024

12-30

  • Add Flexibility section
  • Add NYISO’s description of the markets

12-19

  • Add Adaquecy section
  • Add Operating Reliability section
  • Add Resilience section

12-17

  • Add Reliability section
  • Add Generation section
  • Add acronyms table

12-12

  • Add ancillary services and AGC by FERC
  • Add AGC by FERC
  • Add Market section

12-11

  • Initial post