A method and apparatus for controlling circuits in an electrical power grid. Parameters in the circuits are monitored. Each circuit comprises nodes in the electrical power grid and a number of lines connected to the nodes in the electrical power grid. The number of lines is configured to carry electrical power. The nodes control the electrical power in the number of lines. A number of agent processes associated with the nodes communicate with each other using a communications network, configure the nodes in the electrical power grid into a number of circuits, and control a delivery of the electrical power through the number of circuits to loads. A determination is made as to whether to make a change to the number of circuits based on the number of parameters and a policy. The circuits are changed using the policy in response to a determination to make the change.