Shorting the Grid, The Hidden Fragility of Our Electric Grid is an exposé of the insider-ruled practices of the “deregulated” areas of the United States electric grid. The grid in these areas is managed by a regional transmission organization (RTO). Within these organizations, no group is responsible or accountable for grid reliability. The RTO areas have higher retail electricity prices, no way for ordinary citizens to influence decisions, and a more fragile grid. Using the rules and history of the New England grid as an example, the book shows how RTO areas are moving steadily to a future of “rolling blackouts” where the grid operator deliberately cuts power to one section of the grid after another.
An RTO manages which power plants supply electricity to the grid and when. This book describes how the renewable sources, wind and solar, are integrated into the electricity supply and influence wholesale and retail electricity prices. The book shows how public policy mandates by state and federal legislatures cause RTOs to favor high-cost and unreliable power plants over those that provide the bulk of the electricity.
Shorting the Grid will show you the hidden problems caused by lack of accountability in grid governance. Americans need to pay attention to how the grid is managed, and not be fooled by simplistic assurances of market forces, all-renewable mandates, endless cheap natural gas, and distributed generation. Hopeful speeches will not keep the lights on. If you assume that the lights will go one when you flip a switch, you need to read this book.
