Various little changes were made in the recharged edition; the rules can be found here:
https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/179416/power-grid-recharged-version-us-rules-booklet
The rules are mostly the same, but with a few simple significant changes. Some changes can easily be played with a normal earlier set, if desired, e.g.:
There is a "1" discount token that goes on the low plant. This makes the lowest plant always minimum bid 1. If it isn't bought, it is removed at the end of the auctions.
The starting plants are no longer fixed, and you remove a pre-set number of "low" and "high" plants for 2P/3P/4P rather than simply removing 4 or 8 random plants from higher than the fixed starting market.
An optional / advanced rule about determining initial cities.
Coal is always available on the US map.
Power Grid is the updated release of the Friedemann Friese crayon game Funkenschlag. It removes the crayon aspect from network building in the original edition, while retaining the fluctuating commodities market like Crude: The Oil Game and an auction round intensity reminiscent of The Princes of Florence.
The objective of Power Grid is to supply the most cities with power when someone's network gains a predetermined size. In this new edition, players mark pre-existing routes between cities for connection, and then bid against each other to purchase the power plants that they use to power their cities.
However, as plants are purchased, newer, more efficient plants become available, so by merely purchasing, you're potentially allowing others access to superior equipment.
Additionally, players must acquire the raw materials (coal, oil, garbage, and uranium) needed to power said plants (except for the 'renewable' windfarm/ solar plants, which require no fuel), making it a constant struggle to upgrade your plants for maximum efficiency while still retaining enough wealth to quickly expand your network to get the cheapest routes.
Power Grid FAQ - Please read this before posting a rules question! Many questions are asked over and over in the forums... If you have a question about a specific expansion, please check the rules forum or FAQ for that particular expansion.
Awards & Honors
2010 Nederlandse Spellenprijs Winner
2010 Nederlandse Spellenprijs Nominee
2010 Japan Boardgame Prize Voters' Selection Nominee
2010 Gouden Ludo Winner
2010 Gouden Ludo Nominee
2009 Juego del Año Finalist
2008 Ludoteca Ideale Official Selection
2008 Lucca Games Best Game Mechanics
2008 Lucca Games Best Boardgame
2008 Hra roku Nominee
2007 Hra roku Nominee
2007 Gra Roku Game of the Year
2005 Spiel des Jahres Recommended
2004 Tric Trac Nominee
2004 Tric Trac d'Argent
2004 Meeples' Choice Award
2004 International Gamers Awards - General Strategy; Multi-player Nominee
Premii si mentiuni
2004 International Gamers Awards - General Strategy; Multi-player Nominee
2004 Meeples' Choice Award
2004 Tric Trac Nominee
2004 Tric Trac d'Argent
2005 Spiel des Jahres Recommended
2007 Gra Roku Game of the Year
2007 Gra Roku Game of the Year Nominee
2007 Gra Roku Game of the Year Winner
2007 Hra roku Nominee
2008 Hra roku Nominee
2008 Lucca Games Best Boardgame
2008 Lucca Games Best Game Mechanics
2008 Ludoteca Ideale Official Selection Winner
2009 Juego del Año Finalist
2010 Gouden Ludo Nominee
2010 Gouden Ludo Winner
2010 Japan Boardgame Prize Voters' Selection Nominee
2010 Nederlandse Spellenprijs Nominee
2010 Nederlandse Spellenprijs Winner
2011 Jocul Anului în România Best Game in Romanian Finalist
2020 Guldbrikken Best Adult Game Nominee