Summary: Much of our energy distribution technology is state of the art 1888 technology.
History of the Electrical Grid
The electrical grid was first started to be formed in 1896, based on plans by Nikola Tesla created in 1888, which beat out Edison's plan for a direct current electrical grid. Aspects of Tesla's plan were demand-driven control and centralized, unidirectional transmission. While technologies have changed, and our usage has certainly changed, the principles of the grid have not, due to a reluctance by utility companies to invest in changing what has worked for so long. Some intelligent meters have been installed in the last couple decades that keep track of when energy is being used, but there hasn't been any attempt to alter the actual grid until very recently, and even then, in only a limited number of areas.