Shorting the Grid: The Hidden Fragility of Our Electric Grid

By: Meredith Angwin Published: 2014 496 Pages

Briefly, what is this book about?

A deep dive into the convoluted nature of the electrical grid with a particular focus on how attempts to make it more effective through competition have failed. Beyond that Angwin describes how the challenge of integrating and encouraging renewables has turned a convoluted problem into an impossible one.

What's the author's angle?

Angwin is a blogger (her newsletter is titled “Electric Grandma”) who has dedicated her energies to the very narrow focus of the power grid and related issues. Before retiring she worked with the utilities as a chemist. Since then she’s been a consumer advocate, primarily in the northeast where she has been closely involved in the laws and regulations for many years.

Who should read this book?

This is a book for infrastructure nerds. Particularly if you’re interested in the fragility of infrastructure or the challenge of grid management in an era of intermittent renewals.

An initial caveat:

I read this book a year ago...