The difference is mostly due to the fact that the grid in Europe tend to be mostly buried. A large part of the electrical grid in North America is aerial due t

The difference is mostly due to the fact that the grid in Europe tend to be mostly buried. A large part of the electrical grid in North America is aerial due to cost and geographical constraints (burying in solid rock is expensive, and doesn't make sense with lower population densities), which makes it much more vulnerable to damage by storms.