Which standard element, required for interconnected service, was established around 60 Hz in the US?
Answer
Frequency
The shift toward building out interconnected utility systems required moving beyond simply having working power plants; it necessitated uniformity so different generating stations could work together reliably. To ensure that power drawn from one source was compatible with power drawn from another, utilities established common standards across several operational parameters. Among these mandatory standards were voltage levels, metering practices, and the rotational speed of the generators, specifically the frequency, which was standardized at 60 Hz for the United States. Establishing a uniform frequency was crucial for the proper functioning of all connected AC equipment, particularly the newly viable AC motors.
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