There are plenty of these around and most of us drive past them while banks of this kind of gear are within power utility switchyards, substations, generation plants, etc...in those fenced-in, well-protected, long light gray or alunimum buildings that nobody typically pays much attention to. However they control the very heartbeat of major electricity-transmission connections, generally in regard to switching and metering. From there, many have state-of-the-art gear connected to the internet so that electric companies can monitor power flow (traffic).

The shown system monitors/controls generation at relatively small facility in New England.

However much bigger and very elaborate panelboards exist worldwide, within system interface, station switching, substations, larger generation facilities, etc.

Operation of such is restricted to utility personel *very* well versed and trained, to say the least.

In the event of the recent southwestern US blackout it is probable an employee made "that-one-wrong-move" in operating a section of panelboard like this one. The cascading effect of 60-cycle disturbances bestowed upon the connected grid can be quite "historic"... saying it "nicely"...... -----------------------

On a lighter note, I think a retired unit like this would look cool as a refrigerator...adapted somehow. I have tall ceilings so I know something like this would fit among my home of power-stuff go-with's, lol ;-)

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