We often take electricity for granted. We flip on the lights, plug in our devices, put on a pot of coffee… all while expecting that the power will be there when we need it. And it almost always is, thanks to a complex interwoven network of infrastructure that stretches from coast to coast. In this episode of The Energy Optimist, we dive into this complex system. Specifically, we explore the two distinct but interconnected sections of the electric grid—the distribution grid, and the transmission grid. With expert guest Lorraine Akiba, a former Commissioner at the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission among many other roles, we examine what differentiates these two parts of the grid, how they intersect, and why it’s important to operate them in coordination with one another.