How bad is America’s aging electrical infrastructure?
A significant portion of America’s aging electrical infrastructure – which was built in the 1960s and 1970s – is struggling to meet today’s demand. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), “70 percent of transmission lines are over 25 years old and approaching the end of their typical 50–80-year lifecycle.”
Additionally, large power transformers (LPTs) “are typically considered to have a design lifetime on the order of 40 years,” but in 2014 it was “estimated that the average age of LPTs in the North American grid was 38-40 years,” which indicates that “a substantial fraction of those LPTs are at or over that design lifetime” and, thus “will ultimately need to be replaced or refurbished.” (Department of Energy) With loosening screws and wires fraying, the public is vulnerable to electrocution and other serious safety issues.
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave the U.S. energy infrastructure the barely passing grade of D+ on its “2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure.”
An aging electrical infrastructure was identified as the No. 1 challenge that electrical power companies face, according to study by Utility Dive.
An aging electrical infrastructure is more susceptible to damages from equipment failure and severe storms that bring ice, heavy snow, high winds, and lightning, and thus more likely to be the cause of electrical fatalities or serious injuries.
What are the main issues with the aging electrical infrastructure in the U.S.?
The aging electrical infrastructure in the U.S. is facing critical challenges because much of it was designed for a world that no longer exists. Built in the 1960s and 70s, the system was never intended to meet the demands of today’s economy. Its outdated design assumed one-way power flow from large plants to homes and businesses, but the modern energy landscape is far more complex. Integrating renewable sources like solar and wind, supporting the explosive growth of electric vehicles, and meeting the massive power requirements of data centers and AI technologies all strain a system that was not built to handle them. This mismatch between old design and new demand creates inefficiencies, reliability problems, and heightened risks of large-scale outages.
Adding to the problem of the aging electrical infrastructure is the age of system itself. Many transmission lines, transformers, and substations are already more than 25 years old, with much of the grid approaching or exceeding its intended 50–80 year lifespan. As these components wear out, the risk of failures, fires, and power surges grows, leading to blackouts and, in the worst cases, injuries and fatalities. Extreme weather events fueled by climate change accelerate this decline, pushing equipment to fail sooner than expected. Without significant investment and modernization, the U.S. grid will continue to deteriorate, jeopardizing not only energy reliability but also public safety.
What are the consequences of the aging electrical infrastructure in the U.S.?
The main issues with aging electrical infrastructure in the U.S. is that it was built decades ago for a very different era of energy use and is now unsafe, inefficient, and unreliable under modern demands.
- Outdated design – The grid was designed in the mid-20th century for one-way power flow from large power plants to consumers. Today’s system requires two-way flow to handle renewable energy sources like solar and wind, which the old grid wasn’t built for.
- Physical deterioration – Power lines, transformers, and substations are far beyond their intended lifespans. This leads to breakdowns, sparks, and failures that increase the risk of fires, injuries, and deaths.
- Reliability issues – More frequent and longer-lasting blackouts occur as old equipment struggles to keep up with growing demand.
- Public safety hazards – Failing equipment and downed lines cause serious injuries and deaths every year, from electrocution, fires, and accidents linked to infrastructure failures.
- Vulnerability to extreme weather – Heat waves, storms, wildfires, and floods are overwhelming fragile infrastructure, causing widespread outages and faster deterioration.
- Safety risks – Decaying lines and equipment lead to downed wires, surges, and electrical accidents that put both workers and the public in danger.
- Inefficiency and waste – Older systems lose more energy during transmission, wasting resources and driving up costs.
- Cybersecurity weaknesses – Outdated digital and physical systems are easier targets for cyberattacks.
When power lines and other electrical components age, the risk of a serious electricity accident rises significantly. Most utility poles are still made of wood, which makes them more susceptible to collapsing due to weather rot, insect infestations, and accidents. And components like deteriorating transformers can experience oil leaks and insulation breakdown, leading to dangerous fires and explosions. But this can be prevented with regular inspection, maintenance, and modernization.
What are we doing to modernize the electrical grid in the U.S.?
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, was implemented to give America’s aging electrical infrastructure a much-needed financial boost. Additionally, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issues orders that are intended to streamline the process of repairing, rebuilding, and updating electrical components and infrastructure, such as power lines, utility poles, and electrical components.
Are power companies required to protect the public from accidents caused by an aging electrical infrastructure?
Power companies have a legal responsibility to protect the public from electrocutions and electric shock accidents that are caused by defects and hazards resulting from an aging electrical infrastructure.
In Schultz v. Consumers Power Company, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the an electrical utility company “that maintains and employs energized power lines . . . has an obligation to reasonably inspect and repair wires and other instrumentalities in order to discover and remedy hazards and defects . . . [and] to protect the public from danger. . . . Electric companies must exercise ordinary care to guarantee that equipment is kept in a reasonably safe condition.”
In Levi v. Southwest Louisiana Electric Membership Cooperative, the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled that “a power company has an obligation to make reasonable inspections of wires and other instrumentalities in order to discover and remedy hazards and defects.”
In Stacks v. Arkansas Power and Light, the Supreme Court of Arkansas recognized that under long-standing Arkansas precedent “‘the very nature of the business of an electric company requires it to use a high degree of care in the erection, maintenance, operation, and inspection of its equipment which is used in the transmission of its electric power, so as to prevent injury to one likely to come in contact with the power line.’”
Rule 214 of the National Electric Safety Code requires utility companies to inspect their power lines and equipment “at such intervals as experience has shown to be necessary.” The rule also states that power lines with “recorded defects that could reasonably be expected to endanger life or property shall be promptly repaired, disconnected or isolated.”
Can I sue if I’m hurt in an electrical accident caused by an aging power infrastructure?
If an aging electrical infrastructure was the cause of an electricity accident that injured you or a loved one, you may be able to sue the utility company and any other responsible parties for pain and suffering compensation as well as money damages to pay for your medical expenses and lost wages.
How can a lawyer help me?
A skilled electricity accident lawyer with specialized knowledge in this complex area of law, as well as both a strong track record of success and a reputation for taking cases to trial, can help you get a big settlement quickly if you have been electrocuted or suffered an electric shock due to the aging electrical infrastructure. This is because big power companies and other well-heeled defendants don’t take inexperienced lawyers seriously. They know an inexperienced lawyer has neither the skill set nor the “know how” to handle an electrocution case. And if the lawyer doesn’t accept a low-ball offer, they’ll tie the case up in litigation for years.
You deserve better than this, which is why you need the best electrocution lawyer you can find to ensure you get an award that reflects the full value of your case.
A skilled lawyer will:
- Fight to get you a bigger settlement in less time
- Determine liability and hold negligent parties accountable
- Verify all insurance policies and financial assets that will be used to fund your settlement
- Detect violations of the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) and/or the National Electrical Code (NEC)
- Hire the nation’s best experts to prove your case and your damages, including those who specialize in NESC/NEC, engineering, power infrastructure, economics, medicine, and rehabilitation
- Take your case to trial if the insurance company doesn’t make a full and fair offer
How many people are hurt or killed each year in electrical accidents?
Electrical injuries and fatalities are quite common, especially in areas with an aging infrastructure. Here are some eye-opening statistics:
1,000+ people are killed in electrocution accidents across America every year (National Library of Medicine)
30,000+ people are injured in electrocution accidents in the U.S. each year (National Library of Medicine)
On average, there are150 deadly workplace electrical accidents in the U.S. each year (EFSI), and another 1,630 serious injuries
In 2023, which is the most recent year with available data, there were 142 fatal occupational injuries caused by electricity exposure (BLS)
