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ate in the afternoon of Aug. 14, 2003, on a calm, warm summer day, a massive failure of the electric grid began in Northeast Ohio. The event that would become known simply as “The Blackout” would leave 50 million people in eight states and the province of Ontario without power, some for as long as the next four days. Ten years later, we ask the question:
COULD IT HAPPEN AGAIN? By JAY MILLER jmiller@crain.com
ecause NASA scientists proved more than a decade ago that lightning can strike twice, a repeat of the Aug. 14, 2003, blackout that left 50 million people without power can’t be casually dismissed. However, the federal government and the electric industry have made great strides in protecting the grid that sends power to homes and businesses across the country. In the last decade, reliability standards that had been voluntary have been strengthened and
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made mandatory, with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission charged with enforcing standards set by the North American Electric Reliability Corp., a federally chartered nonprofit that oversees the national grid. Those mandates have spurred hundreds of millions of dollars of investment in distribution system upgrades and increased maintenance. Trees are trimmed more aggressively, phasor measurement units — which monitor voltage levels on the grid — are in place, and grid interconnections have been analyzed and improved. See HAPPEN Page 27
A DARK DAY FOR MANY
POWERFUL CHANGE
Many local businesses and organizations were burned by the blackout. Ten years later, they discuss the lessons they’ve learned and the changes they’ve made. Still, some feel they’re always “at the mercy of the grid.” PAGE 26.
Bob Feiklowicz, left, of Avon Lake was shopping for a power generator for his home following the 2003 blackout when he had an idea. The result was starting his own business, PowerOn Generators LLC, and now he’s so busy he struggles to get a weekend off. PAGE 26.
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HR LEADERS The region’s human resources professionals are recognized for all they do ■ Pages 13-25 PLUS: LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD ■ LAST YEAR’S EVENT
Entire contents © 2013 by Crain Communications Inc. Vol. 34, No. 31