Supporters of nationalization often argue that the current grid’s structure, a patchwork of 3,000+ private and public utilities, creates fragmentation that slows modernization and increases vulnerability. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 70% of transmission lines are over 25 years old, and many were not built to handle modern electricity demand or extreme weather. The American Society of Civil Engineers gave the U.S. energy grid a C‑ grade, citing aging infrastructure and insufficient investment. Advocates also point to the 2021 Texas blackout, which caused over 200 deaths and $195 billion in economic losses, as evidence that a decentralized system can fail catastrophically when states or private utilities do not coordinate reliability standards. They argue that a nationalized grid could streamline planning, accelerate renewable energy integration, and ensure consistent reliability standards across all states. Some analysts note that federally run systems like the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) already serve 10 million people and maintain reliability rates above 99.9%, suggesting that public ownership can function effectively at scale.