Electric Power Grid Disruptions: A Time Series Examination

Brian K. Harte and Umesh Kumar

Journal of Critical Infrastructure Policy, 2020, vol. 1, issue 2, 197-216

Abstract: It is important to empirically assess both the viability and defensibility of the national electric grid, which is becoming more complex with increasingly interdependent components. Moreover, the nation's critical infrastructure would quickly become degraded with prolonged grid outages that impact electrical power production and distribution. This study examines time series data for 2,825 cases involving power outages in the U.S. over a 20‐year (246‐month) period, from January 2000 through June 2020. Data was acquired from the U.S. Department of Energy. Severe weather caused the majority of power outages recorded, but human factors accounted for a significant number of incidents. We found that 46% of electrical power outage causes relate to natural or weather‐related events, 28% to grid system operations or failures, and 25% to human interactions. Further, we found that cyber‐attack data was less forthcoming than other types of grid outage reporting. Based on these data, the number of power outages and energy loss attributable to outages continues to rise, while the duration of electric outages and the number of customers affected are declining.

Date: 2020
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https://doi.org/10.18278/jcip.1.2.11

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wly:crtinf:v:1:y:2020:i:2:p:197-216

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