More than two decades after rolling blackouts crippled California, the state’s power grid has transformed into one of the most advanced in the country. Experts say deregulation laws in the 1990s allowed market manipulation by Enron, triggering the 2000–2001 energy crisis. Since then, California has centralized grid oversight through CAISO and partnered with PG&E to modernize infrastructure and improve efficiency. With electricity demand expected to rise 70% in the next 20 years, new technologies like smart substations, power flow control, and large-scale battery storage—now totaling nearly 13,000 megawatts—are key to stability. Leaders say regional cooperation and innovation are helping California stay on track for a net-zero energy grid by 2045.

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