cr0sh
Member
I think nsaspook's explanation is likely the closest to the "correct" one; I doubt this change has anything to do with making our clocks more accurate, but has more to do with the power grid as a whole. From my understanding, when the total load on the system changes, and they have to bring on more generators to keep up with the demand, they have to sync the output frequency of those generators to the grid as a whole, or issues occur (I'm not sure what - but I would bet there are feedback issues, waveform instabilities, probably some form of losses, maybe other generators being slowed down/out of sync - I obviously don't understand it all, but my limited understanding says it would be a -bad thing-). Keeping these timing/frequency issues as small and accurate as possible probably has more to do with keeping the entire grid operating efficiently and properly (and any extra costs to do so will be passed on to you and me, and any savings that come out of the changes will be added to the bottom line/profits - of course)...
![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)