---
key: mechanic/automation-programming--t112
type: mechanic
id: automation-programming--t112
lang: en
title: Power grids and load management
summary: >-
  Power grids split limited generation among consumers, storage and losses,
  requiring load priorities.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/automation-programming--t112/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/automation-programming--t112.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/automation-programming--t112.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Automation and programming
  - Mechanics and variants
sourceIds:
  - source-96be186d8ada50a0
  - source-182bd0164e3ed354
sources:
  - id: source-96be186d8ada50a0
    title: 'Factorio: Content'
    url: 'https://www.factorio.com/game/content'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-182bd0164e3ed354
    title: Factorio
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/427520/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: automation-programming
    id: t112
    title: Automation and programming
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/automation-programming/#t112'
    categoryIds:
      - mechanics
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Power grids and load management
    description: >-
      Power grids split limited generation among consumers, storage and losses,
      requiring load priorities.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/broad-factorio-extra-12.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: Factorio
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/427520/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/427520/ss_aee9573a97f97fbb7daac6c76709c62228ec5e00.1920x1080.jpg?t=1787348817
      credit: Wube Software LTD. / Wube Software LTD.
      rights: © Wube Software LTD. / Wube Software LTD.. All rights reserved.
      caption: Steam engines generate power for the factory
      alt: Steam engines generate power for the factory
      markers:
        - x: 50
          'y': 48
          label: The generator group determines available grid power
    tips:
      - 'Compare generation, consumption and available reserves.'
    examples:
      - title: Factorio
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/427520/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original bilingual editorial overviews authored for gamemechanics.pro on
  2026-10-20 and reviewed on 2026-10-21. Scenarios are hypothetical design
  examples; prototype checks describe work to perform, not completed playtests.
  Primary sources support the stated techniques and implementation context, not
  every proposed variant.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/automation-programming
---
# Power grids and load management

id: automation-programming--t112
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/automation-programming--t112
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/automation-programming--t112/

Power grids split limited generation among consumers, storage and losses, requiring load priorities.

## At a glance

![Steam engines generate power for the factory](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/broad-factorio-extra-12.webp)

[Factorio](https://store.steampowered.com/app/427520/) · © Wube Software LTD. / Wube Software LTD.. All rights reserved.

1. The generator group determines available grid power

- Compare generation, consumption and available reserves.

- [Factorio](https://store.steampowered.com/app/427520/)

## How it works

Power grids split limited generation among consumers, storage and losses, requiring load priorities.

## Variants

### Mechanic variants

<a id="t112-variants"></a>

- Storage shifts surplus to another time period. <a id="t112-v1"></a>
- Peak demand needs a temporary reserve. <a id="t112-v2"></a>
- Load shedding preserves a critical service. <a id="t112-v3"></a>
- Network separation contains a spreading failure. <a id="t112-v4"></a>

## Design example

A night factory uses stored energy and cuts advertising before water pumps when reserves run low.

Prototype check: Test simultaneous consumer startup and prevent energy creation through charging cycles.

## Context and limits

Automation moves repeated work into a system; the player builds connections and identifies the limiting stage. Each overview separates player actions, state changes and alternative rules. Examples are hypothetical design scenarios, not claims about a named game. A prototype check states an observable question for the next iteration. Existing detailed references remain separately linked from the direction map.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original bilingual editorial overviews authored for gamemechanics.pro on 2026-10-20 and reviewed on 2026-10-21. Scenarios are hypothetical design examples; prototype checks describe work to perform, not completed playtests. Primary sources support the stated techniques and implementation context, not every proposed variant.

- [Factorio: Content](https://www.factorio.com/game/content) (id: source-96be186d8ada50a0)
- [Factorio](https://store.steampowered.com/app/427520/) (id: source-182bd0164e3ed354)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors