Dit is nie moontlik om meer energie te gebruik as wat geskep is nie. Dit 'n sleutel beperking in die verspreiding van elektrisiteit. Met klein uitsonderings, kan elektrisiteit nie gestoor word nie, en moet dus gewek word soos dit benodig word. 'n Gesofistikeerde beheerstelsel word dus benodig om te verseker dat die elektrisiteitsvoorsiening gelyk is aan die aanvraag. As aanvraag en aanbod nie in balans is nie, kan kragstasies en verspreidingstoerusting breek en kan in erge gevalle lei tot groot kragonderbrekings.
It is not possible to consume more electricity than what is produced. This is a key limitation in the distribution of electricity, with minor exceptions, electrical energy cannot be stored, and therefore it must be generated as it is needed. A sophisticated system of control is therefore required to ensure electric generation very closely matches the demand. If supply and demand are not in balance, generation plants and transmission equipment can shut down which, in the worst cases, can lead to a major regional blackout.