EHV transmission in the U.S.S.R. power grid

In 1965, 507 billion kWh of electricity was produced in the Soviet Union, and the total generating capacity of its power stations reached 114 000 MW. The total length of transmission lines, with voltages of 35 kV and higher, ran to 312 000 km. The capacity of the European power interconnections of the U.S.S.R. exceeded 68 000 MW in March 1966. The control of the power industry is centralized under the Ministry of Power and Electrificiation of the U.S.S.R. Ninety-four percent of its electric energy is generated at power stations that are part of interconnected systems. Thermal stations predominate; their generating capacity accounts for 77 percent of the total installed generation. Hydroelectric plants represent 22 percent of the total capacity and 18 percent of the total output. About one percent of the total power production is from nuclear plants. Thirty-six percent of the thermal plants are equipped to transmit heat energy as well as electric power.