Well, if the lightnung knocked the plant off line, capacity was maxed out and the load factors went too high, couldn't that have caused a domino effect along the grid? Though Gov. Pataki said he didn't this was caused by a capacity problem.
Lightning? Are you kidding? Have you seen the weather map from weather.com - The Weather Channel's site?
It's completely clear in the northeast and has been all day. There have been no storms, which implies no possibility of lightning.
But you didn't hear it from me.