Let’s talk about something that I think a lot of people get wrong, and it matters for every family and every business in West Virginia.

I hear it all the time: “Why are we talking about transmission lines? My problem is right here in my neighborhood. My lights go out. My fridge loses power. My small business goes offline, and I lose thousands of dollars.”

I get it. Those are real problems. And here’s what I want you to know: fixing transmission is exactly how we fix those problems.

They’re Not Two Different Problems. They’re One.

Transmission and distribution aren’t separate issues. They are two parts of the same system. Anyone who tells you otherwise simply doesn’t understand how the grid works together.

Think about your own body. Capillaries deliver blood directly to your cells. But capillaries can’t do their job without arteries bringing blood to them first. Cut off the arteries, and it doesn’t matter how healthy your capillaries are. Your cells die. Our grid works the same way. Transmission lines are the arteries. Distribution lines are the capillaries. You can’t keep the lights on by ignoring transmission, any more than you can stay alive by ignoring your arteries.

That’s exactly what we’re doing when we neglect transmission and then wonder why the lights keep going out in our neighborhoods.

Here’s What Actually Happens When Your Power Goes Out

When the lights go out on your street, it’s often not just a problem with the line outside your house. It’s a problem with the whole system being unable to respond.

A strong transmission network can reroute power around a damaged line — like a highway system that can redirect traffic when there’s an accident. If one road is blocked, you take another route and you get where you’re going. A weak transmission system has no detours. When something breaks, you’re just stuck.

Modern transmission upgrades include smart automation and faster fault detection. That means when something does go wrong, the system finds it and fixes it faster. Shorter outages. Less lost food. Less lost business. Less disruption for your family.

The Facts Back This Up

This isn’t just my opinion. The Trump Administration’s own U.S. Department of Energy and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation both point to weak transmission as a leading cause of the blackouts and brownouts that hit distribution customers. That’s you. That’s your home. That’s your business. President Trump has made fixing our grid a national priority, and for good reason.

West Virginians already lose power more than twice as often as the national average. And when our lights go out, they stay out nearly three times longer than the rest of the country. That’s unacceptable. And a big part of why is that our transmission system is not where it needs to be.

And Here’s the Truth About Brownouts

Brownouts, when your voltage drops and your lights dim and your equipment strains, aren’t random. Utilities use them as a last resort when demand is about to overwhelm supply. They’re a warning that the system is running out of options.

A stronger transmission network gives the system more options. It can pull power from where there’s surplus and move it to where it’s needed. More options mean fewer brownouts. It’s that simple.

West Virginia Deserves Better

Look, I’m not asking anyone to take this on faith. The evidence is clear, the experts agree, and frankly, West Virginians already know the system isn’t working. We live with it every time the power goes out. That’s why there is overwhelming support – 95% – for West Virginia leaders to make fixing the grid a priority.

And the place to start is understanding how transmission and distribution work together to keep the lights on.

So, don’t let anyone tell you that transmission upgrades are somebody else’s problem. You cannot fix what happens in your neighborhood without fixing the foundation underneath it.

We have a choice. We can act now and give our kids a West Virginia that works, one that has the reliable energy they need for their future. Or we can keep kicking the can down the road and let them inherit the mess. I know what I’m choosing.

How about you?