Historic Challenges Viewed Through a Fresh Len
Rachel Bryant is the Executive Editor of Public Utilities Fortnightly.
Living in Colorado, dry summers are nothing new, but this year’s historic drought feels different. Seeing haze and smoke drift down from wildfires as far away as Canada is a stark reminder that extreme weather is no longer just a Western issue. It is happening everywhere, and communities nationwide are grappling with what that means for daily life.
Most of my neighbors do not know the ins and outs of line ratings or capacity modeling, and honestly, they shouldn’t have to. What they do know is that they rely on our industry to keep their homes safe, keep the power on, and protect their families when conditions get tough.
The bulk electric power system is as overloaded as ever. Demand is climbing fast, extreme weather keeps testing physical equipment, and load growth shows zero signs of slowing down.