Modern nations depend on their electrical grids, as they keep homes, workplaces, stores and services running. However, in the United States, the network infrastructure is increasingly unstable, which worries the government and citizens of the country.
The US power grid is a multi-part system. A power plant produces electricity that travels through transmission lines to distribution centers and is relayed to homes and businesses.
When it is stable, it works to control electricity supply and demand. Currently, electrical grids rely on fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. There are concerns about the carbon emissions of these fuels. However, the Environmental Protection Agency has limited power to regulate these emissions.
Maintaining a stable electricity grid with fossil fuels is a tricky balance, but a necessary one to live life as we know it.
Why Electric Grids Become Unstable
There is growing concern about the stability of US power grids. There are some factors that lead to increased instability.
Most of the new power lines in the country are from the 1970s, with a life expectancy of 50 years. As the now-overloaded lines fail, regulators, energy companies and landowners are struggling to agree on when and how to replace them.
When new structures are built, customers pay a premium for them, which complicates the situation. Stakeholders cannot agree on how much to charge their users.
Since US citizens cannot choose their electric company, the fee may lead to reduced energy usage or the inability to pay energy costs in full.
Extreme weather is the leading cause of blackouts in the US Extreme heat or cold can weaken the current grid to the point where it cannot provide power to those who need it most. Climate change is another contributing factor to more frequent and intense storms, leaving the grid more vulnerable than ever.
Some areas are advancing in the production of new sustainable energy resources. However, an unfortunate side effect is that companies will neglect the current grid while preparing new energy sources.
Dangers of instability of electrical networks
With weakening power lines and increasingly intense weather, it’s no surprise that the grid experiences frequent instability. Every year, experts predict an increasing number of blackouts due to these factors. Several blackouts (surges) and dips (surges) occur each month and lead to various complications.
When the power goes out, so do many of the machines we depend on to earn and spend our money. Cashiers cannot perform debit or credit transactions and may not be able to enter the cashier to deliver change. Electronic funds transfers are disrupted and physical checks may not cash, leading to unpaid wages for workers.
Even if the power is not completely turned off, devices can still run less efficiently, leading to poor performance in businesses and factories. Gas pumps also require electricity, so outages can delay needed deliveries.
Security also threatened
Without power, the country is literally and figuratively in the dark. Localized and national security systems rely on the power grid to conduct surveillance and take action if the systems detect a threat.
There are concerns about the network’s vulnerability to cyberattacks, which could allow enemies to break into our digital systems while the country is blind.
Also, when the power goes out, people’s ability to stay healthy in their own homes decreases. Extreme weather causes power outages that can prevent residents from using air conditioning or heating systems. These losses can put them at serious risk of developing hypothermia or heatstroke.
food crisis
Perishable foods are short-lived, as refrigerators need electricity to keep food at a temperature that is safe to eat. Lack of light can also make homes more dangerous to navigate safely, especially for young children and older adults. With hospitals depending on power to treat their patients, power outages put the sickest patients at risk.
When any of the above problems occur, it is necessary to communicate with family, friends, neighbors and employees. However, our increasingly digital society means that the ability to do this may be short-lived. For many, communication depends on having a load, cell phone, tablet or computer that can consume more energy than when the blackout occurred.
There are layers of protection you can implement to protect your home and business from network instability. As stakeholders continue to debate, here’s what many are already doing for your peace of mind.
What are some solutions for maintaining the stability of power grids?
Solutions include generators, which are essentially extra batteries for your home. When the mains fails, the generator can take over and provide electricity for your lights and appliances for a period of time. If you want to get rid of dependence on the electrical network, you can install a private electrical network in your home.
Another solution is solar panels, which can be expensive to install but often produce a significant return on investment. They convert the sun’s energy into electricity, providing a personal supply.
People can use geothermal energy to heat and cool their homes, helping them maintain temperature control during extreme heat and cold. Pipes with water that circulate underground to capture the energy emitted by the Earth’s core. The geothermal process is relatively simple and can save you money.
Ultimately, it can seem like surge protectors make no difference during an outage, but they pack a punch afterward. When a power surge occurs, it can run through your expensive devices, effectively destroying them. By connecting your devices to a surge protector, you keep them safe from powerful waves of electricity.
It’s a good idea for every household to have an emergency kit with essentials such as food, water, medicine, battery-powered flashlights and radios, blankets, cooling towels, and first-aid supplies. When a power outage occurs, you may not get help right away. These kits can keep you and your family safe until the power comes back or you can seek shelter elsewhere.
The United States can improve the stability of the current grid by replacing it with more efficient power lines and sources. However, it is also necessary to update the current configuration to maintain our society as we know it.