The article makes a very important point about large transmission transformers. These are the behemoth ones you see in substations and near generating plants, the cost starts at $500,000 and goes up to several million each, and they aren’t kept in stock, and leadtimes run 6 months or more. Think about when the electrical grid infrastructure was really built-out in much of the country - it’s been post WWII in many areas, and that means the average age of these transformers is 50 years or more, which is their design life. So much of the grid is living on borrowed time as it is, and transformers fail primarily by overstress - a major surge results in breakdown that causes internal arcing and further breakdown. A runaway condition that destroys the transformer, and leaves a sizable population without power for a long time.
The power companies have enough spares on trailers to cope with the occasional isolated outage, but something on a massive scale will leave millions in the dark, along with their phones, internet, EBT and ATM machines, gas pumps, etc.
Good thing Hyundai heavy industries just built a huge transformer plant in hope hull, Alabama. Think that place would be “appropriated” in an emergency...
” large transmission transformers” - a few years ago one of those feeding Phoenix blew in summertime.
The nearest replacement was in Oregon or Washington.
Had to be transported by barge to Los Angeles, then by heavy-lift trailer at about 5 mph to Phoenix.
Took several weeks, overall.
I don’t recall if anyone lost power due to peak limits, but even if they didn’t it was “darned close”.
That’s for a single failure.
I have no idea where the replacement for the spare came from.
Imagine what would happen if even two or three failed nationwide.
Good observations. But are you suggesting this drill is necessary? How does a continental "drill" including the participation of Feebs and Reich Security remedy our shortcomings?