Yesterday, Con Ed released the initial report on what happened with the Queens blackout. It's 107 pages, and it's mostly a chronology of the events that unfolded - the feeder cables going out, day after day, trying to prevent bigger outages, etc. Mayor Bloomberg isn't satisfied with the report so far - what happened to being BFF with Con Ed, Mike? Don't like 'em so much when you're all hot and sweaty now, huh?
You can read the report right here (PDF). We skimmed it last night, and it was pretty dry in a horrifying way as you remember how terrible it was in Queens ("ten feeder cables went out") for 10 days. But one thing we did enjoy were the diagrams and illustrations. This weekend, we're reading the report and learning all about the Long Island City network!
And Con Ed is asking businesses and residents on the East Side, between 14th and 40th Street, to turn off non-essential appliances - there are feeder problems!
Update: If it's hot, it's time to freakout - here's the email that's been circulating around:
My friend's dad works for ConEd - he just called and told her not to ride the subways any more today, as we will likely have a blackout. ConEd is sending all non-essential employees home right now so they can shut down power to their building. From yesterday's heat, Manhattan has 4 feeders out, putting a big strain on the system. He said in his 30 years working there, he's never seen ConEd act like this, especially at 10:30 in the morning. He said not to panic, but not to take a chance if it can be helped - avoid riding the subway if at all possible.
To clarify, Con Ed has an office at 14th Street; Con Ed asked all businesses between 14th and 40th Streets to reduce the power, so that's probably why non-essential employees were sent home. And while four feeders were out, the area in question has over 30 feeder cables . The reader who sent it to us wrote, "Given my knowledge of the subway, I don't believe this to be true or possible. There are 4 power sub-stations which have independent generators. The subway is not entirely dependent on ConEd." That's true, the NYC Transit Authority is the biggest consumer of electricity in the city, but it has 215 substations of its own. Anyone else have thoughts?
Aha, and the AMNY subway blog, Tracker says it's a rumor, at least according to the NYCTA spokesman Charles Seaton. And City Council Dan Garodnick's office will be handing out information about conserving electricity in the East 20's-40's.
Update: Con Ed denies the email! am New York's Chuck Bennett has the details from Con Ed spokesman Alfonso Quiroz, who adds, "I am going to be riding the subway tonight when I go home to Jackson Heights, Queens."
Diagram and illustration from the Con Ed report about the Queens blackout
