THE ULTIMATE in centralization of instrumentation and controls for a steam electric power station might be considered as only one operator for the whole station; this operator would be sitting in a quiet air-conditioned office with one load indicator and one control to start, adjust the load, and stop each main turbine generator. The boiler for each unit and all other equipment would operate automatically, and the man's only duties would be to operate the load controls in accordance with telephone dinstructions from the system load dispatcher. However, this ultimate in simplification is neither economical nor feasible for present-day steam turbine generators, boilers, and auxiliary equipment.