I’m aware of how utilities and the fees that they charge for service are regulated.
Which is to say, that until and unless they are granted a rate increase, or even a temporary surcharge, to cover the cost of preparing for an EMP, they aren’t going to spend the money - there’s nothing in it for them from the standpoint of cold, hard numbers. This is most definitely a government problem - they need to require spare transformers and certain minimum levels of protection against ALL kinds of surges, natural and man-made.
I just said the PSC (or whatever regulatory body applies) has the power (no pun intended) and authority to do just that. The consequences of inaction are too dire - or so we’re told.
In addition, the states and Feds have no problem spending money and forcing people and companies to comply when they see fit, as I’m sure you know. Something of this magnitude should be a no-brainer.
Therefore either we, as a nation, face a grave threat with some outside force to cripple the electric grid and set us back 100 years, or we do not.
If we are truly vulnerable, and something meaningful can be done about it, then there really are no excuses for standing idle.