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"Act Now to Avert Another Blackout, Taft Urges"
"COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Gov. Bob Taft today joined utility regulators from other states and Canadian provinces and members of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to discuss the importance of taking appropriate steps to avoid a blackout like the one that occurred Aug. 14, 2003. During his remarks at a workshop sponsored by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Taft reiterated his call for Congress to pass mandatory reliability legislation for the transmission of electricity."It has been almost a year since the blackout, yet the Congress has failed to act on legislation of tremendous importance to our nation's economy and our everyday lives," said Taft. "I urge Congress to require mandatory reliability standards for the transmission of electricity in response to the blackout that shook the confidence of Ohioans in a system that most take for granted."The workshop focused on the steps that have been taken to avoid a blackout like the one that left 50 million U.S. citizens and Canadians without power last August. Taft also expressed his support for a plan that would create and empower a regional system that places direction and control of transmission with independent regional grid operators.On June 2, Taft met with chief executives and other utility executives from FirstEnergy Corp., Cinergy Corp., AEP, Dayton Power & Light, AMP-Ohio, MISO and members of the legislature to discuss what steps have been taken to improve electric reliability in Ohio since last August's blackout. Since last August, Ohio's electric utilities have conducted training for their control room operators, upgraded control room computer systems and spent millions of dollars in vegetation management programs to ensure that there is adequate clearance in the utility rights of ways.In September 2003, Taft testified before Congress about the need for mandatory reliability standards, incentives to invest in the country's electricity grid, and reform of regional transmission organizations. Last summer's blackout caused at least 2 million Ohioans to lose power, the Cleveland water supply failed and Ohio businesses suffered millions of dollars in losses."