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The main advantage of AC is that it works with transformers, so you can distribute the power at high voltage and then deliver it to households at low voltage. As electronics gets less expensive, DC becomes more practical because you can do the same sort of voltage changes without transformers.

The technical tradeoffs are well understood by the power engineering community. What they have not done is communicate to the public and the political sphere that power distribution requires steady, forward-looking investment. Under the deregulated financial model, the incentives are to delay infrastructure investments in favor of short-term profit, which leads to the lack of power lines in places where the wind blows.

Except in Texas.

by asdf on Mon Nov 17th, 2008 at 09:41:49 AM EST
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