Jan 18, 2007 6:11 pm US/Eastern
Blistering Report Blames Con Ed For NYC Blackout
PSC Places Utility In Hot Seat For Massive Failures
by Tamsen Fadal
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
Days of sweltering temperatures; tens of thousands of frustrated residents without power; and Con Edison insisting it was doing it all it could to fix last summer's massive blackout.
Just a few months ago, Con Edison attributed the massive blackout in July 2006 to a series of events beyond its control, including an underground fire and a sudden surge of current. But now, the Public Service Commission provides a very different picture of what is to blame.
After months of wondering what really went wrong, a state regulatory agency is providing the answers in a 185-page report.
The report by the Public Service Commission says about 174,000 people were affected, and at one point, far more than Con Ed ever admitted.
The report also said that nearly half of the utility's feeder cables were malfunctioning.
The report goes on to state that Con Ed's performance was "unacceptable and a gross disservice to its customers."
The reported added that Con Ed "either failed, or refused, to comprehend the magnitude of the crisis."
Con Edison is defending how the blackout was handled, but also said it is reviewing the report's findings.
It doesn't end there: the Public Service Commission also recommends a formal proceeding that could result in large financial penalties against the utility company.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
