I think if we look at it with perspective --- many of our grandparents were in the first generation to even have electricity. I think it's pretty reliable considering those old cities had electricity added to them well after they were already big cities ---and they can't change the whole system in just a few years. Plus we keep adding to our electrical needs ---- 50 years ago, most people didn't have air conditioning and all the appliances they have now. I can see how big systems would start shutting down with power surges tripping breakers.