This is an interesting video about power outages, and why it's always important to report power outages to the electric company, even if you think your neighbors have reported the outage. It turns out that electric companies aren't mind readers and if there isn't an a major fault at the substation, they may very much not be aware of any problems.
Today marks 54 years since the Great 1965 Blackout. The power didn't go instantly, instead the frequency of the alternating current dropped as parts of the grid failed and remaining generators still online tried to crank out sufficient current to keep the lights running. As radio stations were using tape decks back then, as the frequency of the alternating current slowed, you can actually hear the tape recording of Jonathan King's "Everybody's Gone to the Moon" slow down. It was a perfect song to be playing on that night, because it was a full moon.
This video will take a close look at three-phase power and explain how it works. Three-phase power can be defined as the common method of alternating current power generation, transmission, and distribution. It is a type of polyphase system, and is the most common method used by electric grids worldwide to transfer power.
Continuing the series on the power grid by diving deeper into the engineering of large-scale electricity generation.