The Times states:

“A study published in the journal Risk Analysis in May [2015] found that the U.S. power grid is increasingly blacking out when hit with severe weather, and lags behind other developed nations in terms of reliability.”

“I think it is an open question as to whether utilities are investing enough in the infrastructure needed to harden the system against storms, and on simple but effective things like tree trimming,” said Roshanak Nateghi, the report’s lead author and a professor at Purdue University.”

Nateghi’s Risk Analysis article introduction explains:

“The electric power system is one of the most complex manmade technical systems in the world. Ensuring the reliability of the electric power system is crucial because the functioning of most other critical infrastructures is heavily dependent upon it.” [Risk Analysis, 2016 Jan, 36(1), 4-15. DOI: 10.1111/risa.12401.]

The authors conclude by noting that, although some argue that the costs of improved grid reliability are too high, research has shown that the costs of repeated customer interruptions and system repairs are far greater. 

Risk Analysis: An International Journal is published by the nonprofit Society for Risk Analysis (SRA), a multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, scholarly, international society that provides an open forum for all who are interested in risk analysis.

Photo courtesy of the Seattle Times