Interchange scheduling: discipline or disorder?

Electric power transmission access is being opened and many interested parties want to get in on the act. The world of interchange scheduling is now a mixture of both old and new players, with changing rules, and uncertain risks to electric system reliability. Reliable electric system operation requires rigorous discipline in executing interchange schedules. Here, the author examines: whether disorder can be avoided in this rapidly changing environment; and how the reliability of the interconnected electric systems in the United States will be impacted by these changes.