The Vulnerable Grid

[Servicetech571]

I know these utility lines that are above ground do not help at all. Surely they would be less susceptible to CME's if they were underground, wouldn't be impacted by wind, ice, and other natural disasters, and wouldn't be at risk for human mistakes such as someone running into to one with a car or something. They are ugly and we live in the 21st century and they need to be buried.

As for the national power grid, I believe it needs to be updated and have a new smart grid implemented. I believe it will cost trillions though and take place over a couple decades. The new air traffic control system the FAA is upgrading is the same way, but I'm not even sure if they have started that yet.

Would you mind paying a higher electric rate to pay for the upgrades?

[kevinpate]

Taking down the grid a transformer or two at a time is a bit like counterfeiting George Washington's. Maybe someone has the manpower and time to make it work, but there are definitely easier and more productive ways to skin a cat.

Although, I have noticed more and more places checking for counterfeit 5's in recent months. <worried face?>

[Just the facts]

Anyone out there with some insight to how vulnerable we are? Is this no big deal or is it a real problem?

It's best if you don't think about it. However, if you do think about it, it will scare the hell out of you. Our biggest problem, and not just the power grid, but everything, is that we have lost local control of almost of everything from food sources, to water sources, to electricity, to finance, to employment. Instead of self-sufficiency at the local or even regional level, we are nearly 100% dependent on supply lines, and anyone with any military experience can tell you that is a bad situation to be in.

You don't even have to attack the power grid directly. The average power plant only has a few days of coal supply. Disrupt the freight line that supplies that coal and you can bring an entire region of the country to its knees in 3 days. It wasn't that long ago that every city had their own power plants, but not any more.

[Plutonic Panda]

Would you mind paying a higher electric rate to pay for the upgrades?

I don't pay for electricity at the current moment, but likely will at the end of this year, but no, I would not mind paying a little bit more than what people currently pay. As long as it is reasonable. It's funny though, how Richardson(a suburb of Dallas) is burying-and has buried-most of their lines and no raise in electric fees, so I doubt that'd have to happen, but wouldn't be surprised if it did.