[cdn-nucl-l] ONTARIO NOT THE ORIGIN OF AUGUST 14 BLACKOUT

["Jerry Cuttler" <jerrycuttler@rogers.com>]

FYI
We should build more plants in Ontario. Maybe after the Oct 2 election.

----------------------------------------

ONTARIO NOT THE ORIGIN OF AUGUST 14 BLACKOUT

Ontario's electricity system was not the source of the electrical
transmission system disturbance that resulted in blackout of most of Ontario
along with U.S. states of Connecticut, Michigan, New York and Ohio.
Addressing the United States House of Representatives Committee on Energy
and Commerce, Independent Electricity Market Operator of Ontario President
Dave Goulding told Representatives that the events affecting the Ontario
system started with a reversal of flow of electricity from Michigan. Ontario
had been importing 486 MW, but over a three-minute period this reversed to
an outflow of over 2200 MW. This was accompanied by a reversal of
electricity flow with New York. Unable to withstand the outflow to both
jurisdictions, the Ontario system collapsed at 4:12 p.m. He stated that
there were no indications of system instability on the Ontario electrical
grid prior to the events noted above.

With respect to the impact of the blackout, Mr. Goulding said that all
protective equipment worked as designed to isolate transmission and
distribution equipment to prevent damage from overload.

Mr. Goulding noted that the transmission system has been heavily utilized in
recent years for power exports and imports. In the case of Ontario, he said
that Ontario has imported nearly 7.4 TWh over the past 12 months, while
exporting 3.3 TWh. Ontario meets as much as 10 per cent of its electricity
demand through imports during peak periods.

IMO 09/04/03