Initial material for this book was developed over a period of several years through the introduction in the mid-seventies of a graduate-level course en­ titled, "Control and Operation of Interconnected Power Systems," at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Subsequent involvement with the utility industry and in teaching continuing education courses on modern power sys­ tem control and operation contributed to the complimentary treatment of the dynamic aspects of this overall topic. In effect, we have evolved a textbook that provides a thorough under­ standing of fudamentals as needed by a graduate student with a prior back­ ground in power systems analysis at the undergraduate level, and in system theory concepts normally provided at the beginning of the graduate level in electrical engineering. It is also designed to provide the depth needed both by the serious graduate student and the power industry engineer involved in the activities of energy control centers and short-term operations planning. As explained in Chapter 2, the entire book can be covered in a two­ quarter course sequence. The bulk of the material may be covered in one semester. For a two-semester offering, we recommend that students be in­ volved in some project work to further their depth of understanding. Utility and consulting industry engineers should concentrate on the more advanced concepts and developments usually available at the latter half of each chap­ ter.