AP source: Spies compromised US electric grid (Flashback, 2009)

AP via Breitbart ^ | 4/8/2009 | JORDAN ROBERTSON and EILEEN SULLIVAN

[traditional1]

The cause was operator ineptitude, and the loss of the EMS/Computer system did NOT cause the blackout; period.

Had the System Operators had any clue about how to operate a system, they would have taken action hours before the tree fell.

You have no idea what happened or the sequence that led to it; I do.

[ClayinVA]

you are telling us that the grid operators could not figure out which button to push for 24 hours. I have heard the stories, but again most in IT think it happened due to SCADA computers getting hit by the blaster worm caused by tying of the regular network and SCADA network together for monitoring and config purposes. I just don’t believe the offical story

[traditional1]

Nope; the restoration was delayed because, again, the system operators (on the system where the voltage collapse began) had NO CLUE as to how to restore generation and load, and made multiple mis-guided and incorrect attempts, until knowledgeable personnel and a restoration plan was begun. Multiple OTHER systems were restored in a matter of 8 hours or so, where skill was present.

SCADA/EMS is NOT essential in system operations in knowing how a power system operates, putting personnel in key locations to effect switching and monitioring, etc. It's been done that way for decades. The sophistication and enhanced information is not a substitute for skill and operating knowledge, so "my computer was down" is NOT an acceptable excuse, period.

Those who think ONLY a computer can operate/provide control/provide information of a power system have not operated a major transmission/generation system.....and do not understand how they work.