Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
NewsCut
Jon Gordon

How does the electrical grid work, and what happens when it breaks?

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

I used to host a daily show about new digital technology that intended to illustrate and explain how our lives were being revolutionized by computers, the Internet, smart phones, etc.  But in the back of my mind I always thought the bigger revolution was the juice that made every single device and network run.  Electricity.

lineman
Rural electrification in the U.S. Far out on the western plains of America a lineman adjusts the top wire of a rural electrification project which will bring power and light to remote U.S. farms and communities miles from the nearest power plant. U.S. farmers' cooperatives are organized to secure rural electrification at cost on a non-profit basis. There are over 6,000,000 farms in America and more than four out of every ten are now electrified. (Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress)

So I'm eager to listen to MPR News Presents today at noon.  Public radio veteran Alex Chadwick hosts a special report about the nation's electric distribution grid -- how it works, its history, and innovations to meet the challenge of linking new sources of energy like wind and solar to the electric grid.

grid workers
Crews like the National Grid workmen are on the front lines of grid repair when something goes wrong with the system. (Photo courtesy of JT Thomas)

More about The Switch: A BURN special on the nation's electrical grid in this video:

Listen live at noon today.  And for your electricity-based digital convenience, you can listen here:

https://soundcloud.com/burnanenergyjournal/burn-theswitch-web