As Utilities Fight Distributed Generation, Electricity is Getting Less Reliable
Providing a stable supply of electricity is a core part of the mission of all utilities, and is demanded by the regulators who oversee them. And yet the security of U.S. electricity supply appears to be getting worse. Not only can solar and batteries supply backup power in the event of an outage, but distributed generation has the advantage of being closer to demand, and can improve the reliability of the grid. Microgrids further enhance this advantage, and are being actively investigated as a means to protect critical infrastructure during disasters.