Who invented the term "voltscommissar"?

The word was coined in a posting to the newsgroup sci.engr.electrical.compliance in March 1999 by one Ed Price:


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

This robust attack by the electricity industry technical expert Mr Price just makes you wonder how many millions, indeed billions, of dollars are at stake if customers and regulators force the new monopoly electricity distributors to supply a fair and reasonable voltage.