Bruce Sterling's Viridian project on the US blackout. He only vaguely hints at a connection to the (hydrocarbon-induced) heatwave in Europe, but quotes Greg Palast at length on electricity deregulation, cronyism and corporate looting. If Palast is right, we're all being led like sheep to a very profitable slaughter by small cabals of politically-connected crooks.
Insert obligatory reference to World Bank realising that privatisation of essential services is a bad idea :)