What occurs when the demand from customers exceeds the transmission capacity?

When customer demand exceeds the transmission capacity, it creates a situation known as congestion. This phenomenon occurs in electrical grids and other utilities where the infrastructure cannot handle the volume of energy or resources being requested by consumers. As demand surges beyond what the existing transmission lines and equipment can manage, it leads to inefficiencies and potential outages.

Congestion is particularly critical because it can cause delays, increased energy prices, and necessitate the implementation of measures to manage demand, such as rolling blackouts or curtailment of service. It directly impacts the system's reliability and efficiency, making it a central concern for utility providers who must ensure that their infrastructure can meet current and future demand.

In contrast, other options refer to different issues. A distribution shortage pertains to the challenges of getting resources to consumers but is distinct from the immediate impacts of exceeding transmission capacity. Overproduction involves generating more resources than necessary, which can lead to waste or financial losses but does not specifically address the bottleneck caused by demand exceeding capacity. Resource depletion refers to the exhausting of a resource through overuse, which is a broader environmental concern rather than an immediate capacity issue within transmission systems.