The U.S. power grid isn’t one big machine — it’s three. That’s a problem for blackout season
The U.S. power grid consists of three major interconnections, which limits the ability to share electricity during blackouts. Extreme weather events have highlighted the vulnerabilities of these systems, as seen in the 2021 Texas blackout and Hurricane Ida's impact on New Orleans. Proposals to enhance connectivity and resilience, such as the Southern Spirit Transmission project, aim to improve power distribution during crises.
- ▪The U.S. power grid is divided into three interconnections: Eastern, Western, and ERCOT.
- ▪Limited transmission lines between these grids hinder the ability to share power during outages.
- ▪Proposals like the Southern Spirit Transmission project aim to enhance connectivity and resilience against extreme weather.
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| Original publisher | Fortune |
| Canonical URL | https://fortune.com/2026/05/30/us-grid-not-one-big-machine-three-blackouts/ |
| Publication time | Sat, 30 May 2026 12:04:34 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-30T12:49:36.360Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-30T12:49:36.360Z |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Extreme weather is posing a growing threat to the power supplies Americans rely on.Recommended Video In 2021, a fierce winter storm left millions of Texans without electricity and water for days. Hurricane Helene in 2024 knocked out power to about 5 million customers across the U.S. Southeast. Beyond the immediate human and economic toll, major blackouts like these often leave behind the same unsettling contrast: One region goes dark while nearby places still have power. This raises a question: If electricity is still available somewhere nearby, why can’t it be sent where it is needed most? Hurricane Helene left much of Georgia in the dark for several days starting in late September 2024. The satellite image on the left is a normal August night in the Atlanta region.
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