Blackout prevention?

Question

What are some ways that energy companies are able to prevent blackouts and brownouts?

Answer 1

For the most part they have spinning reserve power plants that are idling by can be bought up to power in seconds to cover for anything that goes off-line (usually gas fired).

If that doesn't work they'll often cut off larger industrial customers who agree to lose power first for lower rates to reduce load on the grid.

Then if things get really bad they'll start rolling blackouts.

Answer 2

They can switch to another electric companies grid until their problem is fixed. That is why we have a nationwide grid.