August 2003 Blackout (2024)

FAQs

What caused the August 2003 blackout? ›

The blackout's proximate cause was a software bug in the alarm system at the control room of FirstEnergy, which rendered operators unaware of the need to redistribute load after overloaded transmission lines drooped into foliage.

During the blackout, total mortality rose 28%, resulting in approximately 90 excess deaths (Figure 1, Table 1).

All told, 50 million people lost power for up to two days in the biggest blackout in North American history. The event contributed to at least 11 deaths and cost an estimated $6 billion.

The massive power outage left a swath 6,000 kilometers (3,700 miles) long–including portions of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, and Canada–in the dark.

The largest power outage in history by number of people affected took place in Northern India. On 30 and 31 July 2012, two severe blackouts occurred, the second of which affected some 670 million people—half the country's population, or almost 10% of the world's population.

August 14 and 15, 2003 - The northeastern U.S. and southern Canada suffered the worst power blackout in history. Areas affected extended from New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey west to Michigan, and from Ohio north to Toronto and Ottawa, Ontario. Approximately 50 million customers were impacted.

The ambient maximum temperature in NYC was 91.0°F on the day of the blackout and 89.1°F on the day after the blackout. In addition to the very high outdoor temperature, the loss of air conditioning and mechanical ventilation caused indoor temperatures to rise, leaving people with no respite from the outdoor heat.

The city was struggling to cope with the lingering municipal financial crisis and the serial killer known as the Son of Sam, who was still on the loose. The blackout touched off rioting and looting that wrecked neighborhoods from Bushwick to East Harlem.

The 2003 Northeast Blackout left more than 50 million people between the northeast and portions of Canada without electricity. On Aug. 14, 2003, at about 4:10 p.m., millions of people living throughout Metro Detroit and Michigan were without power for at least one day, some even longer.

NYCdata | Disasters. One of the largest blackouts in New York City history occurred on a hot Thursday afternoon, August 14, 2003. It is believed to have originated in Ohio, after a bush fire caused a transmission line to go out of service at around 2:00 PM. Within an hour, a second transmission line failed.

How long did the 1999 blackout last? ›

On July 6, 1999, 200,000 people north of 155th Street lost power for 18 hours. That blackout resulted in a burst of ill-will and litigation.

The blackout occurred at approximately 9:30 pm on July 13, 1977 and left most of New York City without power for 25 hours.

What caused the power outage? An investigation later revealed that the reason for the power outage was due to some overgrown trees that came into contact with power lines in Ohio. FirstEnergy Corporation's EastLake plant shut down and the company was criticized for their poor line maintenance.

Disrupt communications, water and transportation. Close retail businesses, grocery stores, gas stations, ATMs, banks and other services. Cause food spoilage and water contamination. Prevent use of medical devices.

According to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the Texas power grid was "seconds or minutes away from" complete failure when partial grid shutdowns were implemented, it was later revealed to be 4:37 away.

What caused the power blackout of August 14, 2003? How are transmission lines inspected to prevent future line failures? A transmission line in Ohio was sagging against a tree and the other lines got overloaded so it created a black out.

The lead up to the blackout started on the evening of July 13, 1977 when lightning hit the Buchanan South substation at 8:37 pm, tripping two circuit breakers. A second strike caused two transmission lines at the Indian Point Energy Center to go down and overloaded two other transmission lines.

Within minutes, power was out from eastern Canada to Michigan and Ohio, on to Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and up into New England. Power was restored in the city after about 29 hours, but it took up to four days in some places.

Lightning damage

A second lightning strike caused the loss of two 345 kV transmission lines, the subsequent reclose of only one of the lines, and the loss of power from the nuclear plant at Indian Point. As a result of the strikes, two other major transmission lines became overloaded.