Power Blackout of 2003 : Lessons Learned

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Power Blackout of 2003


What were the “root causes” of the August 2003 power blackout event?
According to most published reports, two primary items led to the blackout:
First Energy’s “Lack of situational awareness” and
First Energy’s “Ineffective vegetation management”.




The “Bad News”
Verizon lost 5 switches in 2 “high-profile” Central Offices in Manhattan (West 50th St. and East 56th St.) due to standby generator failures
The high ambient temperature and humidity conditions resulted in decreased output from the turbine-driven generators; there were fuel system issues with 2 of the diesel generators
These events affected 276,000 customers.


The building blackout test is designed to ensure that:
All necessary building ac loads are on the generator’s standby bus
The generator is properly sized for the building
The generator’s “life support” systems (fuel pumps, oil cooler pumps, water pumps, start battery charger, etc.) are powered from the generator they are serving
These parameters are measured during periods of peak demand, and/or worst ambient environmental conditions
Critical office facilities and communications systems are powered from the generator
The office emergency lighting system is working properly.