California's pre-emptive blackouts highlight significant differences in electrical reliability compared to other countries, with the U.S. experiencing more frequent and longer outages. Factors influencing this include aging infrastructure, above-ground power lines susceptible to weather, and policies prioritizing cost over reliability. The distinction between transmission and distribution systems is crucial, as failures in transmission can cause widespread outages, while distribution failures affect localized areas. Statistics indicate that countries like Germany and Japan have far fewer outages per customer per year compared to the U.S. The discussion emphasizes the need for better policies and infrastructure management to improve reliability in the face of increasing environmental challenges.
