The importance of a good cup of coffee is not to be underestimated!

This is an interesting point though as it would appear that the electrical grid supply in the USA is done on the cheap and not very resilient to gale force winds as has been recently discovered. I have even discovered that the multitude of pole transformers i.e. the last transformer before the residence (7,200 volts into the 220-240-120 volts) actually has in many circumstances aluminium windings to save on cost.

http://www.temcotransformer.com/poletransformer.html



In the UK the last transformer is ground based usually behind a brick surrounding wall or building with the 240V 3 phase distribution (1 phase per residence) cables mostly being buried. Here is an unusual Transformer that doesn't have a protective wall structure.

This is not an easily solved problem, but rather than just repair the poles and pole transformers etc, perhaps over time the infrastructure needs heavy investment for underground cables or these week long outages will just re-occur with the next kite flying weather day.

No, it's just very old.

The 'cheap' are the people who refuse to replace our grid until it's absolutely, positively necessary. Maybe they're waiting for an alien EMP attack.

Sue

The burying of high voltage, high capacity lines is a costly busines, therefore these are normally overhead both in the UK and in the USA.
Local distribution at voltages of a few thousand volts is more readily buried. Here in the UK most local distribution is at 11,000 volts, buried in all but rural areas.
Pole mounted transformers in rural areas reduce the voltage to 240/415 for use by isolated buildings or small groups of buildings.
In built up areas, the 11,000 volts is reduced to 240/415 by large transformers each serving many customers. The cables are normally buried in built up areas.
The transformers are normally located at ground level in small buildings erected for the purpose, these are immune to flooding unless it is very deep. In city centers the transformers are often in basements and therefore vulnerable to flooding.

Bad weather frequently causes outages in remote or rural areas as the wind brings down the lines.
Weather induced outages in urban areas are very rare in the UK.

Even urban areas might in theory be vulnerable to outages caused by weather damage to the overhead high voltage grid lines. In practice it is seldom a problem in the UK.

Most power outages in urban areas are caused by excavations damaging cables, or by the flooding of transformer substations when these are underground.

The USA system with more pole mounted equipment is vulnerable to high winds and impact by vehicles, but less vulnerable to flooding.
Failures of pole mounted equipment are normally obvious and repairs easily arranged.
Faults in underground cables are less readily located and may require extensive excavations to repair.

http://www.energybulletin.net/node/43823

It would seem that the last 2 nodes on the grid network, i.e. the local 7200 Volt to 220/120V transmission distribution on 50 year old wooden poles are the least of the problem.

The idea of a free market in electrical energy supply and a unified robust electrical grid transmission network are somewhat mutually exclusive.


Any idea when and where that tipping point comes? Hopefully it won't be with Hurrican Katia sometime next week if the Canadian track forecast is a possibility (similar to the 38 Long Island express track). A large area storm with gale force winds (Irene) for the most part saw 8+ Million customers without power last week. Or will it be a Carrington solar storm event leaving 300+ million without power for months on end together with a few melted down nuclear Fukishima style reactors be the tipping point for consumer anger and frustration.

+1 Am_Fear_Liath_Mor

Much of U.S. infrastructure, especially in and around the cities, is slowly failing. Each year, for example, more and more water mains are leaking and breaking. Many of them were installed 80 to 100 years ago. Bridges are another example of aging infrastructure that requires increasing maintenance and/or replacement. I don't think there is really a full grasp on the magnitude of the problem or costs.

My wife is not someone I want to be around until she has her coffee. If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.

Welcome aboard!

I am probably someone you would not want to be around before I've had my coffee!

Glad to be aboard.