Much has been written about how antiquated the U.S. electrical grid is the average substation transformer is 42 years old but according to John Kappenman, some of the newer technology is more vulnerable to geomagnetically induced upset than older systems.

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Through a series of acquisitions, mainly in Europe, it now has in its fold Irish power substation firm Microsol and transformer makers Pauwels in Belgium and Ganz Transelektro in Hungary.

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