Will NYC Black Out Again?

Ferry whizzes by a dark New York during the blackout; Photo: Robert Sterling

Gothamist would like to thank the New York Times for giving us a mini anxiety attack with an article about last year's blackout that begins, "As the New York region looks toward summer and the first anniversary of the biggest blackout in North American history, two things are clear. There is enough electricity to survive the heat. And yet, the lights may go out anyway." Augh! Are state officials trying to tell us that perhaps another blackout could occur, because if that's the case, trim those tree branches! NYC has enough power until 2009, which is when officials expect the city to fall short of the 3000 megawatts needed by 280 megawatts (if anyone can explain any of this, be our guest). Yes, the blackout was a great way to bond, dance in the streets and have cookouts, but blackouts are so 2003. Let's think of something new in this post-Industrial Revolution world, like money magically coming out of all ATMs at once.

Read the full blackout report from the government and gothamist on the blackout, including the Blackout Edition. And Ask Gothamist confirms that the blackout baby boom is great urban legend, but that's all.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on June 1, 2004 9:06 AM

Comments [rss]

Ready Kilowatt

To better explain the shortage issue. Power is not generated on a basis of "Oh, you need this much power we will provide it right now" basis. It's generated based on predictions and estimates. Ideally you want to generate enough power through various sources to keep up with demand. But to be safe, you need to generate more than needed to deal with extra spikes in usage.

This is part of the reason there is a power grid to begin with. Many power companies share the power they generate with other companies. But they--essentially--reserve the right to claim the power that they generate. So if XYZ power plant has the capacity to output 200MW and they share that capacity on a day that they need 150MW, the extra 50MW goes to the grid. But if usage goes up, XYZ power plant has the right to grab that extra 50MW and buy more power from other power plants beyond their capacity when needed.

The fact that electricity when it's generated cannot be canned or stored is the reason why a grid system works and is needed. And why companies like Enron were able to profit off of the nuances of trading in a commodity where people inherently generate more than the average daily use.

Think of it from an ISP standpoint of bandwidth. Do most offices with 25 to 50 people need T1 speeds for most daily tasks? Not really. But the T1 capacity is purchased because at peak usage that's what the office needs to deal with the crush of 25 to 50 people all saturating the pipe at once.

That said, I recommend that everyone invest in uniterruptable power suppliues. Not just for your computer. But when the power goes off, you can use one that is fully charged to power a small radio and a lamp.

Welcome to the 21st century everyone!

Scottatron

On the bright side of things...searching for news about the blackout introduced me to Gothamist.

Ron Mwangaguhunga

well, if it does, then the rising prices of milk ought not to affect the price of pizza, because those special ovens are all that will be cooking anything.

K.

But then we wont get to see all of New York in the streets at the same time, the people of NY helping each other out et cetera.

I'm joking. But it is interesting to see how in times of need the people of NY will turn to help each other.

Sterling

It's all about orbital power, baby: http://www.spacedaily.com/news/ssp-01b.html

jamie

To paraphrase Smokey the Bear, only you can prevent another blackout. Or to quote the Dept. of Energy:

"ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) provide the same amount of light (lumens) as standard incandescent bulbs, but have lower wattage ratings. This means they use less energy and cause less pollution. If every household in the U.S. replaced one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, it would prevent enough pollution to equal removing one million cars from the road."

So you can help ward off more blackouts, and fight "The Day After Tomorrow" syndrome all at once.

sam

For an up to the minute measurement of our energy usage and capacity, go here.

dirtgirl

fyi, your numbers are off... The 3000 MW you cite is not what the city needs, but rather the amount that has been brought online in the last several years in the form of new generation capacity (i.e., power plants). The city actually uses 11,150 MW on average per day (interestingly, more than all of Iraq!) The total capacity, for this summer, in NYC reportedly near 13,000 (reference: NY Daily News, May 5).

So, at the moment this means we have an excess of supply of 1850MW on a typical day, and 266MW on a peak demand day. What the Times article is saying is that, accounting for planned new sources that will be brought online, as well as forecasts for additional demand, by 2009, that cushion will turn into a deficit of 280MW on a peak day.

So that means we either need to build new generation capabilities in the City, build new transmission capacity, such as Long Island is trying to do with the cross-channel cable, or reduce our demand (ha!). Pushing through a new power plant is probably the only idea that will work, but doesn't face a lot of community support (ask anyone in Astoria).

Esther

As someone who was trapped in the subway and had to trudge through a pitch black tunnel to freedom and air, I vote for "no blackout."

bee-bau

HA! As I was reading this, the power went out in my office...Hilarity.

Kojak

The blackout last year was more of a glitch in the grid then it was a lack of power generation. If worse comes to worse, they'll probably brownout certain areas at a time (Hopefully Staten Island). Werent they supposed to build mini powerplants all over the city to avoid this?