A string of major blackouts this past year has thrown a fresh spotlight on the security of Canada's power grid. At issue is whether the country's aging electrical networks, which millions of households rely on, can still be trusted. A number of specialists now caution that, without bold measures to reinforce the grid, the whole transition to clean electricity may be put in jeopardy.
"These recent winters have rattled a great many utility managers. Folks see the headlines and picture a lengthy outage hitting their own community, which could undo years of careful planning and even put public safety at risk," said Mona Jardine, a provincial energy-policy analyst. "We have reached a stage where many are doubting the entire drive to electrify everything, and honestly I understand why. Once you take in how widespread these failures were, and how robust the systems that collapsed were supposed to be, a sense of unease is hard to shake. For a small-town council served by just one transmission line, hanging on to an old diesel generator and trusting familiar methods can start to look sensible."
