Grid Reliability & Infrastructure Flashcards
7 cards from real BGE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Grid Reliability & Infrastructure flashcards as text
What is the purpose of a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) in the context of utility work safety near energized equipment?
Answer: It detects small current imbalances to ground and interrupts the circuit, protecting workers from electrocution
GFCIs sense as little as 4–6 mA of current leakage to ground and trip within milliseconds, protecting workers from lethal ground faults through the body.
In BGE's service territory, which season typically presents the highest system peak demand and why?
Answer: Summer, due to widespread air conditioning usage
BGE's service territory in central Maryland experiences its highest electricity demand during summer due to widespread residential and commercial air conditioning loads.
What does 'islanding' mean in the context of distributed generation connected to BGE's distribution system?
Answer: A condition where a DG source continues to energize a portion of the grid after the utility has de-energized it
Unintentional islanding occurs when a distributed generator (e.g., solar inverter) keeps a grid section energized after the utility opens its breaker, posing safety risks to line workers.
What is the function of an equipment 'nameplate rating' for a distribution transformer?
Answer: Identifies the maximum continuous load (kVA) and voltage levels the unit is designed to handle
The nameplate provides critical operating parameters including kVA rating, primary/secondary voltages, impedance, and cooling class that define safe operating limits.
Which scenario best illustrates a 'common mode failure' risk in grid infrastructure?
Answer: Two parallel transmission lines sharing the same right-of-way both fail when a single wildfire crosses the corridor
Common mode failures occur when two supposedly independent paths share a single vulnerability—like a right-of-way—that can disable both simultaneously, defeating redundancy.
What is the primary purpose of a transmission line series reactor installed by a utility like BGE?
Answer: Limit fault current or control power flow on parallel transmission paths
Series reactors add inductive impedance to a line, which limits fault current magnitude or helps balance power flow between parallel paths by increasing the impedance of the over-loaded path.
BGE's Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) process is designed to accomplish which of the following?
Answer: Identify the least-cost mix of supply and demand resources to meet long-term customer needs reliably
An IRP evaluates a full portfolio of generation, transmission, and demand-side options to ensure BGE can meet future load reliably at the lowest long-term cost.