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Electrical grid

A coal-fired power station in Witbank, South Africa , Monday, Oct. 11, 2021.

Scheduled blackouts roll South Africa into electricity crisis

Energy

The lights may be off, but “crisis mode” is definitely switched on in South Africa. Despite a national state of disaster and a new minister of electricity, scheduled power outages, known as load-shedding, continue to heavily impact citizens.

Diala Attieh Younes, 39, washes dishes under candlelight in her kitchen in Beirut. She said her generator-supplied electricity bill has increased six folds since last year.

Lebanon’s electricity crisis means life under candlelight for some, profits for others

Rooftop solar panels in Queens.

A new way to go local: Buy solar energy from your neighbors

Economics
High voltage lines

Study shows US could convert its economy to renewable energy without battery breakthrough

Environment
A surge in wind turbines like these have helped Germany generate more than 25% of its electricity from renewable sources. Since Germany's electricity system is interconnected with most of the rest of western Europe, the overall percentage of this kind of

When the grid says ‘no’ to wind and solar power, this company’s technology helps it say ‘yes’ again

Environment

Superstorm Sandy awakens America to fragile state of power grid

Global Politics

The vast American power grid can be laid low by storms big and small. Jeffrey Leonard, CEO of an investment firm, says if the United States doesn’t start investing now, it’ll continue to face massive bills after disasters.

Energy Hearing in the House

Global Politics

Lawmakers look at how real-time meter readings and smarter household appliances can help save on energy costs.

The grid debate: Decentralize or expand infrastructure

Environment

Two authors debate whether we should move away from centralized power, water and other utilities or invest more in them.

India Power Outages: Living Through the Blackout

Environment

A BBC journalist in New Delhi tells what it was like living through India’s blackouts.

Begrudging the Grid

Two new books examine the public utilities that millions of Americans depend on. One author says they’re so vital they need more tax support. The other suggests decentralized utilities would be cheaper and more robust.