The Power Broken

August 18, 2003

     The Blackout of 2003 was an extremely important event, even though it killed or injured few, if any, New Yorkers.  I am no expert in electrical transmission, so my observations are not technical.  They are common sense judgments, questions and suggestions which I hope may be helpful.
 
1. It is outrageous and totally unacceptable that the blackout occurred in the first place.  Who needs Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda if our supposedly high-tech, up to date, state of the art electric transmission grid collapses on its own?  The event recalls the more tragic loss of the space shuttle Columbia, where a 23-year-old space vehicle was used until it fell apart.  In each case, engineers knew about the problems, but somehow did not reach top management.

2. In New York, the eastern states and Ontario it was not overload that caused the blackout.  So don't feel guilty.

3. If the system managers in Ohio kept the burgeoning problem to themselves for the hour before meltdown, their company, FirstEnergy, bears heavy responsibility, and should share in the economic losses that befell innocent consumers elsewhere.

4. Even if system operators failed, I cannot imagine that technology has not been invented that could have prevented the widespread collapse.  Why wasn't it in place?  Are we worried about Terminator 3, The Rise of the Machines, taking over the planet?  Would it start with California?

5. If blackouts do occur, alternate power sources for major institutions must be more readily available.  Hospitals, public facilities and housing developments should consider backups for the Eastern grid.

6. Whatever happened to the old Federal Power Commission which, when I was a kid, was there to see to it that blackouts didn't happen?  And the big ones didn't, until 1965.  Why is the agency now called the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which sounds even more bureaucratic?  (Rule 11-N: Names matter.)

7. What did we learn from the blackouts of 1965 and 1977, plus the minor ones, and what was done by which public utilities and government agencies to prevent recurrences?  What did they fail to do?  Were the utilities too cheap to keep the grid in shape, or is this a public responsibility?  Who should make that decision?  Did anyone decide?

8. Superficially, Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham does not inspire confidence.  What did he do to earn his Cabinet post besides losing a race in 2000 for re-election to the Senate from Michigan? [Cf. John Ashcroft, who lost to a dead man in Missouri.] What is Abraham's expertise in electric power transmission, and what has he done about the issue since he took office in January 2001?

9. Mayor Bloomberg is widely considered to have performed very well in the crisis, for at least six reasons:

a. He was in the city when it occurred, and immediately went to City Hall with his key staff.
b. The police and emergency service agencies functioned as they should, without incident.
c. The citizens were generally well behaved, in good spirit, and did not riot, steal or kill in the dark. (except for a handful of stores selling sneakers, which were looted)
d. Behind the scenes, he worked to get power restored to the city as quickly as possible.
e. On TV and radio, he gave a calm and positive impression in a difficult and uncertain situation.
f. In times of danger or war, people usually rally around their leader, unless he really loses it.

10. You, the public, should take at least these eight precautions before the next blackout.

a. Keep a lantern, flashlights with batteries that work, and candles in your home.
b. Keep canned food in your pantry, as well as a manual can opener (they are still being made)
c. Do not overload your freezer or refrigerator with perishables.  The more food you keep, the higher your electric bill.
d. Keep several gallons of water in bottles or plastic containers at home.
e. Make friends who live outside the city, so you can visit them if necessary.
f. Keep a pair of sneakers in your office, in case you have to walk home.
g. Carry a small light with you on your key chain wherever you go (within reason)
h. Keep supplies at home for activities usually engaged in while it is dark.

Henry J. Stern is the director of NYCivic.