Major blackouts are usually caused by what type of events?

Major blackouts are often the result of several significant events that are interconnected, rather than a single isolated incident. This interconnectedness means that one event can lead to another, creating a cascading effect that disrupts the electrical grid. When multiple significant events occur in a short time frame or within the same geographical area, they can overwhelm the system's ability to respond and recover, leading to widespread outages.

This is in contrast to events that might be isolated, such as a single piece of equipment failing or a singular natural disaster, which, while they can contribute to outages, typically do not cause major blackouts unless they are part of a larger pattern of failures or events. Understanding the systemic nature of these failures helps operators to manage risks and enhance the reliability of the grid, focusing on resilience and response strategies to interconnected problems. Such a comprehensive approach is crucial because it acknowledges the complexity of the electrical system and prepares operators to mitigate the risk of large-scale outages effectively.