|
|
|
|
|
Y2K Lessons - Power Grid by Alan Simpson I was fortunate to have spoken before many of the major Utility companies during Y2K and one learning experience i have come away with is that the US Power Grids are counting down to failure. The many fears about computer failures precipitating a national blackout were often pointed out to me at conferences, or during broadcasts on TV or Radio. OK, students, the first question is "Does the US have a single "Power Grid?" like many commentators on the TV News think. Coming from the United Kingdom, with one well planned, centrally controlled power grid it prompted me to examine the whole US power infrastructure in 1997/98. The Embedded Chips fiasco was heating up, with "Experts" declaring there were thousands hidden around the grid waiting to fail. It was not until I was traveling the country meeting power engineers, and speaking at conferences, that I learned differently. As one engineer put it in his own fashion: "Where the hell you get that idea from is beyond me, we have a piece of 1950's crap, chunks of copper as switches, and wooden wedges in relays to keep the power on!" To prove a point he suggested I stand near a switching, or transformer station during a thunderstorm, to see why there are no embedded chips in the power grid. It became increasingly apparent that rural America was light years away from the command and control systems in Manhattan. Yet we were led to believe that a rolling blackout was a certainty. I soon learned what an "Island" was in distribution terms. I certainly did not understand the US power distribution system, it's weaknesses, strengths, or risks till late in 1998. I just, like everyone else, relied on the "Experts". We take power for granted, and the early years of the new millennium are showing that we should not. Study the weather patterns, and especially thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes, to appreciate the weaknesses, and resilience of the network. Those power engineers who allowed me to see behind the scenes, especially following natures fury, are to be commended. I wish the TV Networks would show how these engineers keep the juice flowing. (They will not because those dammed Lawyers will be filing lawsuits left right and center.) There certainly is not enough planning for regional outages, in an industry driven by profits. One may question whether effective distribution of energy should not be mandated, or controlled by the Federal Government. With the changing weather patterns, huge increase in energy consumption, and desire for sucking out higher profits by investors, I can see a major power distribution crisis looming. Like in many other industries, we have not learned the lessons from the Y2K "What Ifs..." |
