212:
arranged for equipment designed to backfeed from the consumer's equipment to the electrical utility provider's distribution system. This type of interconnection can involve nontrivial engineering and usage of costly specialized equipment designed to keep distribution circuits and equipment properly protected. Such costs may be minimized by limiting distributed generation capacity to less than that which is consumed locally, and guaranteeing this condition by installing a reverse-power cutoff relay that opens if backfeeding occurs.
595:
1174:
226:
25:
128:
in the direction reverse to that of the generally understood or typical flow of power. Depending on the source of the power, this reverse flow may be intentional or unintentional. If not prevented (in the case of unintentional backfeeding) or properly performed (in cases of intentional backfeeding),
183:
to ensure the incoming electrical service line is disconnected when the generator is providing power to the building. In the absence (or improper usage) of a transfer switch, unintentional backfeeding may occur when the power provided by the electrical generator is able to flow over the electrical
211:
For manufacturing cost and operational simplicity reasons, most circuit (overcurrent) protection and power quality control (voltage regulation) devices used by electric utility companies are designed with the assumption that power always flows in one direction. An interconnection agreement can be
202:
becomes greater than its generated power. The parasitic power load is the result of the usage of: pumps, facility lighting, HVAC equipment, and other control equipment that must remain active regardless of actual electrical power production. Electrical utilities often take steps to decrease their
286:
Because it involves transfer of significant amounts of energy, backfeeding must be carefully controlled and monitored. Personnel working on equipment subject to backfeeding must be aware of all possible power sources, and follow systematic protocols to ensure that equipment is fully de-energized
154:
provider, the excess power generated may be fed back into the electrical grid. This process makes the typical consumer a temporary producer while the flow of electrical power remains reversed. When backfeeding is performed this way, electric utility providers will install a specially engineered
298:
Because of the hazards presented by unintentional backfeeding, the usage of equipment that defeats engineered or standardized safety mechanisms such as double-ended power cords (an electrical cord that has a male electrical plug on both ends) is illegal and against the United States
294:
attach temporary protective grounding assemblies or "protective ground sets", which short all conductors to each other and to an earth ground. This ensures that no wires can become energized, whether by accidental switching or by unintentional backfeeding.
197:
Backfeeding also exists in other instances where a location that is typically a generator becomes a consumer. This is commonly seen when an electrical generation plant is shut down or operating at such a reduced capacity that its
188:
is capable of operating in both directions, electrical power generated from equipment on the consumer's premises can backfeed through the transformer and energize the distribution line to which the transformer is connected.
150:
has led to an increase in the number of consumers that may produce more electrical power than they consume during peak generating conditions. If supported by the consumer's
385:
446:
1119:
362:
339:
175:) that is improperly connected to a building electrical system. A properly installed electrical generator incorporates the use of a
1198:
1177:
594:
199:
89:
1016:
61:
1124:
439:
744:
273:
108:
255:
68:
907:
832:
703:
412:
251:
46:
1079:
1011:
1001:
877:
777:
432:
75:
932:
892:
469:
247:
42:
1159:
1154:
872:
847:
837:
813:
808:
514:
287:
before commencing work, or use special equipment and techniques suitable for working on live equipment.
57:
1074:
792:
762:
539:
1129:
618:
579:
1104:
912:
852:
509:
300:
236:
129:
backfeeding may present unanticipated hazards to electrical grid equipment and service personnel.
1043:
1033:
1023:
240:
180:
35:
964:
827:
610:
499:
1099:
867:
862:
842:
693:
455:
370:
347:
147:
8:
1064:
897:
797:
772:
725:
534:
524:
489:
82:
938:
549:
386:"Utilities Can Improve Power Plant Efficiency, Become Emission-Compliant in Short Term"
172:
1089:
969:
574:
408:
171:
A common source of unintentional backfeeding is an electrical generator (typically a
203:
overall parasitic load to minimize this type of backfeeding and improve efficiency.
1038:
979:
683:
678:
655:
564:
504:
156:
151:
1069:
1028:
1006:
887:
857:
822:
782:
584:
318:
176:
1094:
1084:
882:
494:
125:
1192:
1114:
902:
787:
767:
698:
688:
645:
529:
484:
142:
Development and economization of consumer power generation equipment such as
1134:
1109:
974:
943:
757:
559:
160:
143:
959:
927:
720:
708:
628:
554:
544:
185:
922:
917:
730:
713:
569:
424:
291:
638:
633:
519:
479:
312:
225:
24:
752:
673:
663:
668:
623:
49:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
315:, a similar phenomenon involving local generators.
215:
1190:
290:When working on de-energized power conductors,
402:
440:
206:
403:Ram, Badri; Vishwakarma, D.N. (April 2001).
166:
254:. Unsourced material may be challenged and
447:
433:
137:
274:Learn how and when to remove this message
109:Learn how and when to remove this message
454:
192:
132:
1191:
405:Power system protection and switchgear
428:
252:adding citations to reliable sources
219:
184:service line. Because an electrical
47:adding citations to reliable sources
18:
13:
1125:Renewable energy commercialization
14:
1210:
407:. Tata McGraw-Hill. p. 456.
383:
1173:
1172:
593:
360:
337:
224:
23:
34:needs additional citations for
396:
377:
354:
331:
216:Safety and operational hazards
1:
1120:Renewable Energy Certificates
1080:Cost of electricity by source
1002:Arc-fault circuit interrupter
878:High-voltage shore connection
324:
1135:Spark/Dark/Quark/Bark spread
933:Transmission system operator
893:Mains electricity by country
470:Automatic generation control
16:Reversed flow of electricity
7:
1199:Electric power distribution
1160:List of electricity sectors
1155:Electric energy consumption
873:High-voltage direct current
848:Electric power transmission
838:Electric power distribution
515:Energy return on investment
306:
10:
1215:
1075:Carbon offsets and credits
793:Three-phase electric power
207:Grid design considerations
1168:
1143:
1130:Renewable Energy Payments
1053:
990:
952:
806:
743:
654:
619:Fossil fuel power station
609:
602:
591:
462:
167:Unintentional backfeeding
913:Single-wire earth return
853:Electrical busbar system
510:Energy demand management
390:Power Grid International
301:National Electrical Code
1044:Residual-current device
1034:Power system protection
1024:Generator interlock kit
181:generator interlock kit
138:Intentional backfeeding
828:Distributed generation
500:Electric power quality
1100:Fossil fuel phase-out
868:Electricity retailing
863:Electrical substation
843:Electric power system
367:Electrician's Library
363:"What is Backfeeding"
344:Electrician's Library
340:"What is Backfeeding"
193:Intrinsic backfeeding
456:Electricity delivery
248:improve this section
148:photovoltaic systems
133:Types of backfeeding
43:improve this article
1065:Availability factor
1017:Sulfur hexafluoride
898:Overhead power line
798:Virtual power plant
773:Induction generator
726:Sustainable biofuel
535:Home energy storage
525:Grid energy storage
490:Droop speed control
159:that is capable of
939:Transmission tower
550:Nameplate capacity
173:portable generator
1186:
1185:
1090:Environmental tax
970:Cascading failure
739:
738:
575:Utility frequency
284:
283:
276:
119:
118:
111:
93:
1206:
1176:
1175:
1085:Energy subsidies
1039:Protective relay
980:Rolling blackout
607:
606:
597:
565:Power-flow study
505:Electrical fault
449:
442:
435:
426:
425:
419:
418:
400:
394:
393:
384:Vesel, Richard.
381:
375:
374:
369:. Archived from
358:
352:
351:
346:. Archived from
335:
279:
272:
268:
265:
259:
228:
220:
157:electrical meter
152:electric utility
114:
107:
103:
100:
94:
92:
51:
27:
19:
1214:
1213:
1209:
1208:
1207:
1205:
1204:
1203:
1189:
1188:
1187:
1182:
1164:
1148:
1146:
1139:
1070:Capacity factor
1058:
1056:
1049:
1029:Numerical relay
1007:Circuit breaker
995:
993:
986:
948:
888:Load management
858:Electrical grid
823:Demand response
816:
811:
802:
783:Microgeneration
735:
650:
598:
589:
585:Vehicle-to-grid
458:
453:
423:
422:
415:
401:
397:
382:
378:
359:
355:
336:
332:
327:
319:Transfer switch
309:
280:
269:
263:
260:
245:
229:
218:
209:
195:
177:transfer switch
169:
140:
135:
124:is the flow of
115:
104:
98:
95:
52:
50:
40:
28:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1212:
1202:
1201:
1184:
1183:
1181:
1180:
1169:
1166:
1165:
1163:
1162:
1157:
1151:
1149:
1145:Statistics and
1144:
1141:
1140:
1138:
1137:
1132:
1127:
1122:
1117:
1112:
1107:
1102:
1097:
1095:Feed-in tariff
1092:
1087:
1082:
1077:
1072:
1067:
1061:
1059:
1054:
1051:
1050:
1048:
1047:
1041:
1036:
1031:
1026:
1021:
1020:
1019:
1014:
1004:
998:
996:
991:
988:
987:
985:
984:
983:
982:
972:
967:
962:
956:
954:
950:
949:
947:
946:
941:
936:
930:
925:
920:
915:
910:
905:
900:
895:
890:
885:
883:Interconnector
880:
875:
870:
865:
860:
855:
850:
845:
840:
835:
833:Dynamic demand
830:
825:
819:
817:
807:
804:
803:
801:
800:
795:
790:
785:
780:
775:
770:
765:
763:Combined cycle
760:
755:
749:
747:
741:
740:
737:
736:
734:
733:
728:
723:
718:
717:
716:
711:
706:
701:
696:
686:
681:
676:
671:
666:
660:
658:
652:
651:
649:
648:
643:
642:
641:
636:
631:
626:
615:
613:
604:
600:
599:
592:
590:
588:
587:
582:
577:
572:
567:
562:
557:
552:
547:
542:
540:Load-following
537:
532:
527:
522:
517:
512:
507:
502:
497:
495:Electric power
492:
487:
482:
477:
472:
466:
464:
460:
459:
452:
451:
444:
437:
429:
421:
420:
413:
395:
376:
373:on 2020-07-26.
353:
350:on 2020-07-26.
329:
328:
326:
323:
322:
321:
316:
308:
305:
282:
281:
232:
230:
223:
217:
214:
208:
205:
200:parasitic load
194:
191:
168:
165:
139:
136:
134:
131:
126:electric power
117:
116:
31:
29:
22:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1211:
1200:
1197:
1196:
1194:
1179:
1171:
1170:
1167:
1161:
1158:
1156:
1153:
1152:
1150:
1142:
1136:
1133:
1131:
1128:
1126:
1123:
1121:
1118:
1116:
1115:Pigouvian tax
1113:
1111:
1108:
1106:
1103:
1101:
1098:
1096:
1093:
1091:
1088:
1086:
1083:
1081:
1078:
1076:
1073:
1071:
1068:
1066:
1063:
1062:
1060:
1052:
1045:
1042:
1040:
1037:
1035:
1032:
1030:
1027:
1025:
1022:
1018:
1015:
1013:
1012:Earth-leakage
1010:
1009:
1008:
1005:
1003:
1000:
999:
997:
989:
981:
978:
977:
976:
973:
971:
968:
966:
963:
961:
958:
957:
955:
953:Failure modes
951:
945:
942:
940:
937:
934:
931:
929:
926:
924:
921:
919:
916:
914:
911:
909:
906:
904:
903:Power station
901:
899:
896:
894:
891:
889:
886:
884:
881:
879:
876:
874:
871:
869:
866:
864:
861:
859:
856:
854:
851:
849:
846:
844:
841:
839:
836:
834:
831:
829:
826:
824:
821:
820:
818:
815:
810:
805:
799:
796:
794:
791:
789:
788:Rankine cycle
786:
784:
781:
779:
776:
774:
771:
769:
768:Cooling tower
766:
764:
761:
759:
756:
754:
751:
750:
748:
746:
742:
732:
729:
727:
724:
722:
719:
715:
712:
710:
707:
705:
702:
700:
697:
695:
692:
691:
690:
687:
685:
682:
680:
677:
675:
672:
670:
667:
665:
662:
661:
659:
657:
653:
647:
644:
640:
637:
635:
632:
630:
627:
625:
622:
621:
620:
617:
616:
614:
612:
611:Non-renewable
608:
605:
601:
596:
586:
583:
581:
578:
576:
573:
571:
568:
566:
563:
561:
558:
556:
553:
551:
548:
546:
543:
541:
538:
536:
533:
531:
530:Grid strength
528:
526:
523:
521:
518:
516:
513:
511:
508:
506:
503:
501:
498:
496:
493:
491:
488:
486:
485:Demand factor
483:
481:
478:
476:
473:
471:
468:
467:
465:
461:
457:
450:
445:
443:
438:
436:
431:
430:
427:
416:
410:
406:
399:
391:
387:
380:
372:
368:
364:
357:
349:
345:
341:
334:
330:
320:
317:
314:
311:
310:
304:
302:
296:
293:
288:
278:
275:
267:
257:
253:
249:
243:
242:
238:
233:This section
231:
227:
222:
221:
213:
204:
201:
190:
187:
182:
178:
174:
164:
162:
158:
153:
149:
145:
144:wind turbines
130:
127:
123:
113:
110:
102:
99:November 2021
91:
88:
84:
81:
77:
74:
70:
67:
63:
60: –
59:
58:"Backfeeding"
55:
54:Find sources:
48:
44:
38:
37:
32:This article
30:
26:
21:
20:
1110:Net metering
1057:and policies
975:Power outage
944:Utility pole
908:Pumped hydro
814:distribution
809:Transmission
758:Cogeneration
560:Power factor
474:
404:
398:
389:
379:
371:the original
366:
356:
348:the original
343:
333:
297:
289:
285:
270:
261:
246:Please help
234:
210:
196:
170:
161:net metering
141:
121:
120:
105:
96:
86:
79:
72:
65:
53:
41:Please help
36:verification
33:
1105:Load factor
960:Black start
928:Transformer
629:Natural gas
580:Variability
555:Peak demand
545:Merit order
475:Backfeeding
292:lineworkers
186:transformer
122:Backfeeding
1147:production
992:Protective
923:Super grid
918:Smart grid
745:Generation
679:Geothermal
570:Repowering
414:0074623508
325:References
69:newspapers
1055:Economics
778:Micro CHP
656:Renewable
639:Petroleum
634:Oil shale
520:Grid code
480:Base load
313:Islanding
264:June 2022
235:does not
1193:Category
1178:Category
965:Brownout
753:AC power
463:Concepts
307:See also
994:devices
704:Thermal
699:Osmotic
694:Current
674:Biomass
664:Biofuel
646:Nuclear
603:Sources
256:removed
241:sources
83:scholar
689:Marine
669:Biogas
411:
85:
78:
71:
64:
56:
1046:(GFI)
935:(TSO)
721:Solar
709:Tidal
684:Hydro
361:J.W.
338:J.W.
90:JSTOR
76:books
812:and
731:Wind
714:Wave
624:Coal
409:ISBN
239:any
237:cite
146:and
62:news
250:by
179:or
163:.
45:by
1195::
388:.
365:.
342:.
303:.
448:e
441:t
434:v
417:.
392:.
277:)
271:(
266:)
262:(
258:.
244:.
112:)
106:(
101:)
97:(
87:·
80:·
73:·
66:·
39:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
