Who invented the term "voltscommissar"?

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Subject: Re: Zone substation voltages
From: Ed Price <edprice@pacbell.net>
Newsgroups: sci.engr.electrical.compliance

Michael Gunter wrote:
>
> Regulatory compliance in Australia requires customers to receive an LV
> supply of 240/415 volts +/-6%
>
> Please advise whether it is theoretically possible to modulate the zone
> substation feeder bus (for short urban HV/LV lines) from 22,000 volts +6%
> at full load, down to say 22,000 -3% at 25% load, so that most customers
> will receive a lower rather than a higher voltage most of the time. (peak
> load being a rare event during heatwaves or freezing weather)
>
> I know that industrial customers with big motors do not always appreciate
> the lower torque,

You have documentation of those few industrial customers who DO
"appreciate the lower torque?"

> but it is Joe Public who is being ripped-off with his
> (mostly) resistive load: if he gets 6% more volts most of the time, then
> his lightglobes have reduced lifespan and his heaters may be using
> 12.4% more power than he realises.

Well DUH! More heat from my heater than I expected. Isn't that precisely
why the heater is being operated? And my ventilation fans will
distribute more air, too.

Yes, incandescent lamps will have a slightly shorter lifespan. But some
people may be happy to get a few more lumens out of their 100 W lamp.

> However, once the vertically integrated monopoly is broken up (or broken-
> down if you prefer!) should the network owner fine-tune his network in
> the interest of the *majority* of customers and environmental
> sustainability, or in the financial interest of the electricity
> retailer(s)? Should the regulatory authorities, in pursuing legitimate
> customer interests and the public benefit actually *force* the voltage to
> be reduced at times of light loading of the HV/LV distribution network,
> as long as all customers get a supply not lower than -6% ??

I suggest that the electric utility not play socialist engineering games
with the nominal voltage. Allow those customers who are offended by 6%
brighter lights to buy the next size smaller lamps.

> If I am in the wrong forum, please direct me to a more appropriate place.

How about alt.socialism.peoplesrepublicofaustralia.au/voltscommissar ?

> Regards from Michael Gunter

Regardless,

Ed

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