Power System Utilization
Reserve Margin
RM\% = ((Available\ Capacity - Peak\ Demand) / Peak\ Demand) \times 100
Variables
| RM% | Reserve margin | % |
| Available | Total available generation capacity | MW |
| Peak | System peak demand | MW |
Engineering Example
A system with 1500 MW available against a 1200 MW peak: RM = (1500−1200)/1200×100 = 25%.
Practical Site Example
Nepal's grid has swung between a dry-season import need and a wet-season exportable surplus — reserve margin is the metric that quantifies exactly that seasonal gap.