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The high voltage electric grid is one of the most strategically important network infrastructure assets in the US. Electricity consumption already accounts for 40% of all energy consumed. Moreover, while great strides are being made in the field of energy efficiency, electricity use is constantly growing with rising population levels, larger houses and a greater use of digital devises and flat screen TV’s.
What is the US power grid?
While now in need of urgent additional investment, the U.S. electric power grid has been described as one of the greatest engineering marvels of the 20th century and currently consist of more than 160,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines connected to multiple forms of generation. For an interactive description of the US power system,
click
here. To download a map of the US transmission grid,
click
here.
Who owns the power grid?
The US power grid does not have one single owner - there are more than 520 owners of sections of the US power grid, including Federal Agencies, State agencies, investor owned utilities, municipally owned utilities, cooperatives and private, independent transmission providers.
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