Learning From the Blackout of 2003

On August 14, 2003, an estimated 50 million people in parts of Ontario and the U.S. Midwest and Northeast (Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Jersey) found themselves in the dark during the largest power outage in North American history. The blackout resulted in losses between $4 million and $10 billion in the U.S. alone.

Soon after the blackout, the Canadian and U.S. governments commissioned the joint Power System Outage Task Force to determine the causes of the blackout. It was co-chaired by the Canadian Minister of Natural Resources and the U.S. Energy Secretary. The Task Force was asked to make recommendations in two key areas: reducing the likelihood and scope of future outages, and improving the reliability of North America’s power grid. Three working groups with representatives from both countries were created to help carry out the investigation.

An April 2004 report of the Task Force identified the causes of the power outage. At that time, the mandate of the Task Force was extended to ensure that its recommendations would be implemented.

In October 2006, the Task Force released its report on the implementation of its recommendations. Of its 98 recommendations, 52 have been implemented to date. One of the most significant recommendations was to establish more than 100 mandatory standards to increase the power grid’s reliability.

Julie Richter, electricity policy analyst with Natural Resources Canada, coordinated the writing of the report.

“The causes of the blackout were in large part due to the fact that the electric industry was not meeting voluntary reliability standards,” Julie says. “The Task Force’s number one recommendation was to make reliability standards mandatory and enforceable across North America and to penalize organizations that don’t comply.”

A component of this recommendation was to establish a self-regulatory electric reliability organization (ERO). The existing North American Electric Reliability Council, already responsible for improving the reliability and security of the bulk power system in North America, is well on its way to being accepted as the sole ERO by all jurisdictions in the North American power grid.

To keep the dialogue open, the Task Force also formed what is now called the Bilateral Electric Reliability Oversight Group. This forum allows stakeholders on both sides of the border to continue discussions about common concerns and goals.

The release of the final report marks the end of work for the Task Force.

“Looking back, I believe that the Task Force did a very thorough investigation in a very short time,” says Julie. “Of course, there’s always work to do. The grid needs to be constantly monitored and improved on an ongoing basis.”