The Oil Drum explains why, in one of their long, well-researched and thought-out posts, hos the US electrical grid came to be in such precarious shape.
Their sombre conclusion.
I am having a very difficult time seeing how this can be done. There are just too many entities and too many funding issues to make a transition from a neglected old system to a much-improved new system in a reasonable length of time. Our current economic model seeks growth and the maximization of profits. This economic model does not facilitate large groups of entities working together for the common good.
What we need is power to the people, by the people, for the people.