In recent years, there has been a severe upswing in the amount of energy troubles within the United States. This is caused by a combination of factors, including extreme weather conditions, aging infrastructure, deregulation, and supply chain issues all leading to the US Energy Crisis. The result of this can be rolling blackouts, brownouts, or increased power outages. This can affect not just residential customers but also critical public services such as hospitals.
The power industry’s mandate once was keeping the lights on for everyone. The US government’s deregulation of the industry was meant to promote competitive pricing, but the privatization of power has resulted in price gouging and a profits-first mentality. Infrastructure has not been upgraded in decades to reduce spending and the constant addition of new electronics in our lives continues to put pressure on an already strained system.
Another main factor of power interruptions and outages is weather incidents. As climate change progresses, extreme weather is happening more frequently in the US. Abnormal temperatures in regions create excess consumption due to heating and cooling, forcing a demand to reduce energy use. Hurricanes, storms, and wildfires destroy grid structures, leaving communities without
