This month marks the 20th anniversary of the Aug. 14, 2003, Northeast Blackout, which impacted 50 million people from the East Coast to the Midwest to Ontario, Canada. To revisit the event - and progress made since it occurred – view the North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC) video: The Grid - 20 Years of Progress Since the 2003 Northeast Blackout.
The 2003 blackout was the largest ever experienced in North America. It prompted the passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which facilitated the creation of a national Electric Reliability Organization (NERC) charged with developing and enforcing mandatory Reliability Standards, assessing current and future reliability trends, analyzing system events and recommending improved practices.
20 Years Stronger: What’s Changed at Dairyland & Nationwide
In addition to the actions resulting from the Energy Policy Act of 2005, a System Operator Certification Program was implemented by NERC. “This program requires System Operators, like Dairyland’s dispatchers, to demonstrate that they have attained sufficient knowledge relating to basic bulk power system operations by passing an exam,” said Dairyland Manager, System Operations Center (SOC) Eric Hammes. Dispatchers are required to maintain their credentials through continuing education.
In 2010, Dairyland joined the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) as a transmission-owning member, requiring system operators to adapt to new protocols in the MISO environment. The MISO manages the flow of high-voltage electricity across 15 U.S. states, including Dairyland’s service territory, and the Canadian province of Manitoba. It also facilitates one of the largest energy markets in the world, which can yield flexibility and reliability benefits to members as a buffer to address generation or transmission issues.
Dairyland’s business operations have evolved significantly since 2003, rooted in Board and leadership decisions that strengthen safety, reliability and sustainability for our members. Among the changes:
- Comprehensive Cybersecurity Program to reduce risks across all areas of our business. Includes continual security testing, vulnerability assessments, employee cybersafety education and intelligence sharing across multiple organizations and agencies.
- Participation in annual critical response drills, including
- Emergency Load Reduction Plan (ELRP) drill, simulating implementation of load shedding for a major system event with member cooperatives.
- MISO Power System Restoration drills, which are “black start” exercises, assuming a total Dairyland system black-out has occurred. Participants drill on system restoration protocol, with the goal of returning the system to a normal state. This important practice helps safeguard our system by training staff in the event of an actual blackout.
- NERC’s GridEx, the largest grid security exercise in North America. Focuses on response and recovery from coordinated cyber and physical security threats and incidents.
- SOC Modernization, completed this year. Prior to the project start, Dairyland’s SOC had been in continual operation for over 30 years. New technologies and evolving System Operator tasks highlighted a need for a modern facility for the complex future operating environment. The new SOC features a multifunctional video wall and improved operator training and situational awareness tools.
- Establishment of a Compliance & Security department, ensuring that Dairyland efficiently and transparently adheres to all rules and regulations while developing continually improving best practices.