Aging power grids cause power outages

CNN reports that experts on the nation’s electricity system point to a frighteningly steep increase in non-disaster-related outages affecting at least 50,000 consumers. During the past two decades, such blackouts have increased 124 percent — up from 41 blackouts between 1991 and 1995, to 92 between 2001 and 2005, according to research at the University of Minnesota. A so-called “smart grid” system could help ease summer heat’s impact on the grid. But, that’s years away; most power companies haven’t even begun switching over. Watch the report for more details: