What is a cascading outage primarily characterized by?

A cascading outage is primarily characterized by an increased potential for further disruptions. This type of outage occurs when an initial failure in the electrical system—such as the failure of one component, like a generator or transmission line—leads to additional failures in interconnected parts of the system.

When one element fails, it can overload other components that are still functioning, triggering a chain reaction of failures. This widespread effect makes cascading outages particularly concerning, as they can escalate quickly and affect large areas or systems. The potential for further disruptions is both a defining trait and a significant risk, as it emphasizes the interconnected nature of electrical systems, where the failure of one part can compromise the stability of many others.

In contrast, immediate power interruptions relate more directly to the initial failure rather than the systemic implications, and while a gradual restoration can occur after a failure, it is not a defining feature of cascading outages. An isolated failure pertains to individual components rather than the larger systemic vulnerabilities that cascading outages expose.