Electricity Today T&D Magazine

Unclogging the arteries of North America’s power grid

BY DAVE BRYANT, CTC Global Corporation

Without access to affordable and reliable electricity, no society in today’s world can possibly flourish. Canada and the U.S. rely heavily on electricity to pump water to grow crops, manufacture products competitively, and power North America’s information-based infrastructure, wide-screen televisions, iPhones and air conditioning. In many ways, the electric infrastructure could be considered society’s most important artery.

Sadly, however, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave the U.S. energy infrastructure and electric artery a D+ rating in 2013. According to ASCE, the primary reason the U.S. received such a low grade is the fact that the country’s electrical infrastructure is substantially aged and congested. The low rating is also a function of how difficult it will be for the U.S. to improve the power grid in light of its complexities, regulatory challenges and implementation...