Legislation Would Set Rules for Grid [View All]

[Rose Siding]

Three months after the worst blackout in U.S. history knocked out electricity from New York to Detroit, Republican congressional leaders have responded with an energy bill that they said would go far toward preventing such a calamity in the future.

The legislation includes the first federally enforceable rules to protect transmission grids against cascading power surges such as those that triggered the Aug. 14 blackout, according to congressional aides.

But while it would strengthen reliability rules, the legislation does not deal with the disorganized, fragmented system of grid control centers in parts of the country -- particularly the Midwest, where the blackout started, some experts said. That could leave the Midwest and neighboring regions vulnerable to serious power outages unless utility companies agree to tighten grid controls.

snip>

The rules would prevent the "dithering" seen in grid control rooms on Aug. 14, as operators, struggling with faulty computer systems and inadequate information, delayed actions that could have prevented the blackout, said utility executive Elizabeth A. Moler, who headed an Energy Department study of the transmission system.

snip>

Under the rules proposed in the Republican bill, grid operators could order a utility to increase or reduce power output from specific generators to ease congestion on overloaded power lines, or even to cut off power temporarily to groups of customers to lower demand. Rule violations could result in financial penalties.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A42844-2003Nov14?language=printer

No more DITHERING! Clearly that was the only hinderance to working efficiently with "faulty computer systems and inadequate information."

Does that last bit make it sound like they just legalized- or at least made it easier to do- some of what the industry did to CA?