Why Microgrids Are Moving into the Mainstream: Improving the efficiency of the larger power grid.

The U.S. utility grid was graded a lowly D+ by the American Council of Civil Engineers in 2009. Although that was five years ago, the performance of the U.S. grid has actually declined since that grade was issued. The Galvin Electricity Initiative estimates that the present antiquated dumb electric grid costs U.S. consumers US$140 billion annually because of power outages.