Just flipping the wrong switch at the power plant. Transformers blowing up can really do a number in knocking the power out. Ka-Boom they are loud when they blow up.
There are a number of reasons for blackouts in the USA, Clive. Tornadoes often knock down trees which bring down wires. Cars and trucks run into electric poles. One of the most common is squirrels and other small animals get into the substations and short out the high-power lines [while electrocuting themselves]. The rural electric companies buy their electric from the large companies [like American Electric Power] and run poles and wires in areas that are hard to reach by vehicles - so they can provide electric to people who live in difficult areas. @CJ45
I am certain that there are areas around the states, which have some underground lines. The cost of the underground cable is a factor of whether to go that route. If I ever get power that's the way I would want to go, instead of cutting out trees wide enough for a two-lane road. T
Thank you Maria we have the same sort of weather but not tornadoes as such but when we do have power black outs our guys are out there 24 hours a day and get help from other areas. Just to say where we live we have never had a black out luck not really as our electric cables are now under ground, years ago we had overhead power lines in our gardens but again never had a black out. Our Scottish peoples do have black outs in the winter months as the cables cannot be put underground due to their mountains.
One is the grid is outdated, and there a demand of more power. In addition, to storms winds and tornado that blow through bring the lines down, along with trees and their branches falling on the lines. @CJ45
PW why does parts of America keep getting power outrages is it because they have installed the power lines incorrectly or is it that the structures are old and out of date ?? @ParsonWayne
Yup. At the moment its bright and hot here, but we're supposed to be getting clobbered with rain, severe storms, wind and possible tornadoes. Yippee. :o(
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