Use It or Lose It: How the Electric Grid Works

Most people think the electric grid is a giant battery—store power when there’s extra and pull it out when you need it. Simple. And completely wrong.

In this episode, David R. Legates explains how the electric grid actually works: a just-in-time system where electricity must be generated and consumed almost simultaneously. Using clear analogies, he walks through generation, transmission, distribution, and consumption—and shows why reliability depends on energy sources that can be used when needed.

The discussion also explores why wind and solar, which are non-dispatchable, cannot keep the lights on without constant real-time backup, and how rising demand, grid operators like PJM, and policy choices affect reliability and cost.

If you want to understand why blackouts happen, why electricity prices are rising, and why the grid is far more fragile than most people realize, this episode is for you.

Sources:

https://www.caesarrodney.org/post/delaware-s-energy-crossroads-rising-demand-shrinking-reliability

https://16f05e07-790c-4e37-8967-e07503198f80.usrfiles.com/ugd/16f05e_950ecbbff4b54cbc8b9223d8dc890591.pdf

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