Transmission icing: a physical risk with a physical hedge

For 50 years US utilities used load and short-circuit currents to melt or prevent transmission line icing. This technique fell into disuse in the US during the last 50 years. Major recent ice storms caused many downed lines and much loss of customer load. Improved control and weather monitoring allow transmission-icing risks to be hedged without switching or otherwise jeopardizing system security. A careful risk analysis is needed to develop the right strategy