At 22:24 8/11/96, Z.B. wrote:

...

From what I read, this wasn't a "small localized disturbance". Apparently, a fire underneath one of the main towers on the CA-OR border was the cause of the problem. Now that may not sound like too much, but the lines were carrying at least 3000Mw of electricity, enough "to power 3-1/2 Seattles for a day" (quote from local newspaper). My guess is that when there is a problem involving that much power with no place to go, the safety systems shut everything down to prevent damage.

It was a disturbance at a single power line. By any standard, this should not lead to a blackout from Canada to Mexico. Does anybody here have some first hand knowledge about power transfer at the scale of the US grid? -- Lucky Green <mailto:shamrock@netcom.com> PGP encrypted mail preferred. Defeat the Demopublican Unity Party. Vote no on Clinton/Dole in November. Vote Harry Browne for President.