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Pennsylvania experienced a significant rise in power outages last year, marking the highest number of disruptions in over 30 years. According to the Pennsylvania Utility Commission (PUC), there were 71 reportable outage events in 2024. This surge in outages was primarily attributed to severe weather conditions, vegetation-related damage, and the wear and tear on the state's aging power grid.
The PUC highlighted that most electric distributors in the state struggled to meet reliability benchmarks. Only three out of the eleven electric distribution companies consistently met the standard performance metrics over the past three years. This indicates a pressing need for improvements in infrastructure and maintenance to enhance the reliability of power services in Pennsylvania.
The commission's findings underscore the challenges faced by the state's power grid and the necessity for strategic investments to mitigate future outages. Moving forward, addressing these issues will be crucial to ensuring a stable and reliable power supply for Pennsylvania residents.