Quick Fix Eludes Power Outage Problems in United States

     Sweltering residents and elected officials are demanding to know why it takes so long to restring power linees.  "Its a system thats beginning to age, has been aging," said Gregory Reed, a professor of electrical power engineering at the University of Pittsburgh.  "We haven't expanded and modernized the bulk of the transmission and distribution network."  Maryland state Senator James Rosapepe says, "they obviously need to invest more in preparing for getting the power back on." Some people say rates are high enough and the utility companies should do a better job of trimming trees and branches that threaten power lines.  Though the country's infrastructure is reliable, it was mostly built between the 1930's and 1970's," said Reed of the University of Pittsburgh.  See also, http://hosted.ap.org/.