California's Electric Dependence: Problem and Solution Californians depend on electricity. It powers everything from the phone we use to the freezer that stores goods at the local grocery store. Electricity is part of California's infrastructure, the same as the water supply and food supply. Without an electricity grid, urbanized society will not function. Electricity is a commodity and a necessity. However, recent power outages due to human-caused errors and harsh weather conditions call into question the stability of the power system. On September 9, 2011, I personally experienced a massive power outage in Southern California. The outage, which lasted more than 11 hours from the afternoon of the 9th to the morning of the 10th, caused major traffic jams in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego. Traffic lights and streetlights were nonfunctional, making every intersection a four-way stop. As a safety measure, authorities suspended local schools and universities for a day. That night, residents of suburban San Diego went to bed early, around 9 a.m., because there was no electricity to power the lamp and internet router that kept people up after sunset . As a result, overall business productivity has declined due to crippled traffic. In an article published by the San Diego Union Tribune, the president of the National University System's Institute for Policy Research estimated a loss of $97 million to $118 million due to lost productivity in affected areas (Showley , 2011). The blackout was one man's mistake and the inadequate response of many. When a maintenance worker caused the loss of a power line, adjacent electrical systems connecting from Arizona... middle of paper ....... Works Cited Hennessey-Fiske, M. (January 6 2014). A dangerous “polar vortex” grips the Midwest; 16 below in Chicago. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-polar-vortex-deep-freeze-20140106,0,6314452.story#axzz30UeUj2i7Mataconis, D. (February 7, 2014). Sniper attack on California power plant increases terrorism threat. Outside the ring road. Retrieved from http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/sniper-attack-on-power-station-in-california-raises-terrorism-threat/ Showley, R. (September 10, 2011). Despite the losses, the power outage could bring some positives. San Diego Union Tribune. United Press International Staff. (February 15, 2014). Wind and snow cause power outages in the northeastern United States. United Press International. Retrieved from http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2014/02/15/Winds-snow-cause-power-outages-in-US-Northeast/UPI-88901392476908/