Power Hour with Alex Epstein Our precarious electric grid with Meredith Angwin
Jan 28, 2021
Meredith Angwin, author of 'Shorting the Grid', shares her insights on the fragility of today's electric grid. She debunks the myth of competition in the grid and critiques how deregulation has led to higher costs. Angwin explains the inefficient workings of Regional Transmission Organizations and the concerning reliance on oil during cold snaps. With a passion for nuclear energy, she discusses potential policies for improvement and how individuals can advocate for a more reliable electricity system.
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Meredith Angwin's Learning Journey
- Meredith Angwin learned about the grid firsthand through utility research and activism with Vermont Yankee nuclear plant.
- Serving on ISO New England's consumer liaison group educated her deeply about grid decision-making.
Electricity Markets Lack True Competition
- Today's electricity markets are not truly competitive; consumers typically have no direct choice.
- RTO auctions select the cheapest power for immediate use without guaranteeing future reliability.
Strengths of Regulated Monopolies
- Regulated monopolies combined generation, transmission, distribution, and customer service.
- They prioritized reliability partly through public utility commissions supervising rate of return and fining outages.
