The data flow from the grid also helps the utility to
restore supply faster after an outage. Disruption to
power supplies, potentially on a large scale, is likely to take on greater significance as climate change leads to
more extreme weather happening more frequently. Some examples: in 2016 a violent storm reported as being a once-in-50-years event ripped across South Australia, knocking over pylons and damaging the inter-connectors that govern the flow of energy between networks, leaving most of the state without power. In October 2018, Californian utility Pacific Gas & Electric had to
shut off power for 60,000 customers to reduce the risk of starting wildfires as storm force winds pushed power cables together, causing them to spark. The wildfires that devastated parts of Australia at the end of 2019 amid soaring temperatures and high winds are another example.