The U.S. electrical grid is struggling against surging demand and aging infrastructure, with 31% of transmission lines and 46% of distribution infrastructure deemed beyond their useful life. In 2024, 67% of utility funding was allocated for replacements and upgrades, highlighting the escalation of maintenance needs compared to new line construction. As demand grows, particularly from electric vehicles and electrification growth, power outages have become increasingly common, undermining grid reliability. Compared to the early 2000s, current grid reliability is significantly worse, posing challenges for consumers reliant on this crucial system.
In 2024, 67% of utility spending on transmission and distribution—$63 billion—went to replacements and upgrades, dwarfing the $32 billion allocated to new lines and substations.
Data from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) points to a clear decline in grid reliability, leaving many consumers with a system less dependable than the one their parents knew at the start of the millennium.
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