Blind Spots in the U.S. Power Grid: Plugging the Gaps Affordably and Efficiently
When considering the scale of power generated and the number of customers reliably electrified, no one can deny that the modern U.S. power grid is an engineering marvel. In fact, a commonly cited quote posits that “The American electric grid is the largest and most complicated machine ever built by man.”
But while we can stop to admire the ingenuity and sheer elbow grease that went into creating such an awe-inspiring system, we must also note that the U.S. grid is far from perfect. As time goes on and the equipment running the grid age and break down, the performance and reliability of the grid may be getting worse. The prevalence of weaknesses, even blind spots, of the grid only becomes clearer.
To prepare the U.S. grid for the future—one dictated by a clean energy transition, a rapidly expanding population, and new sources of power demand from electrified transportation to buildings—American leaders must focus their collective attention on what must be done. The grid needs funding and commitment, and many of the most urgent needs on the grid cannot wait. But because of how expansive the United States is and how its power sector is regulated by a patchwork of local, state, and federal policy, making swift and comprehensive grid modernization efforts can be quite challenging. That said, a multitude of technologies have come along that can start to plug these gaps efficiently and effectively.
What are the Grid’s Weaknesses?
AGING GRID INFRASTRUCTURE
Politicians often point to the aging electric power grid as an area they’d like to invest in, citing the aging infrastructure that desperately needs a modern upgrade. These promises have become almost cliché in the effort to score easy political points, as most all voters would agree a reliable and safe power grid is a top priority. Unlike many talking points that get thrown around, these challenges are not without sincere merit, with a 2015 U.S. Department of Energy report concluding that 70% of transformers and transmission power lines were at least 25 years old, while 60% of circuit breakers were at least 30 years old.
Utility companies recognize the need to upgrade their aging equipment but doing so takes capital—a lot of it—and arguably even more time, not to mention the bureaucratic red tape. But they’ve tried to put their money where their mouth is, as spending on power distribution systems by major utilities has risen 54% from $31 billion per year to $51 billion per year in the past two decades.
That said, funding thus far has only amounted to a drop in the bucket of what’s needed, and politicians have been leaning on the promise of more spending without delivering for far too long. So, while the problem has long been diagnosed, the prescription has been written but remains unfilled.