ABSTRACT: This paper studies some transient stability characteristics of interconnected power systems based on a three-machine equivalent system. The impact of generator group angle swing on equivalent potential in a regional grid is taken into account. The analysis indicates that the post-disturbance generator group angle swing in a regional grid can affect the amplitude of equivalent potential, which leads to the change of transient stability of interconnected systems. Furthermore, that angle instability of interconnected systems will easily occur in case that the advanced generator group encounters severe disturbances. Therefore, the severity of transient stability cannot be just reflected by the energy of disturbance. And it should also analyze the impact of generator group angle swing on transient stability in a certain region especially addressing the issue of large interconnected systems.