The darkness of which I speak is the gloom that descended on 50 million people on the East Coast. It was Aug. 14, 2003, at 4:11 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

I was at my desk when news of the blackout arrived here in Kansas City. I received a call to go upstairs to watch the unfolding news on CNN. Our Senior Vice President, John French, and I watched as thousands upon thousands of people streamed across the Brooklyn Bridge. Another camera caught people massing to catch ferries to New Jersey. Yet another camera captured a stranded train. French, down from our New York Primedia headquarters office, pointed to the screen, stating, “That's my train, that's my train! I'd be stuck right there.”

French asked my take on how this could have happened. My response, “A blackout was inevitable. It was only a matter of when and how big.”

We all know there has been a serious lack of investment in the transmission grid over the past two decades. Even worse, we have cut staffing levels to the bone in most utilities. Too many executives decided to cut staff and maintenance budgets first, and figure how to manage their system later. This has left us with an industry that is burned out and beat up. No, the infrastructure is not about to fall down on our heads. I don't buy former Energy Secretary Bill Richardson's comment that we have a “Third World grid,” but I would argue that we've been moving in that direction.

With local special interest groups vigorously fighting any new transmission construction, and with apathetic or hostile state public utility commissions, most utilities have literally given up trying to build major long lines, content to run short tie lines to meet load pockets. Consequently, we've watched the grid become increasingly loaded while we waited for the “big event” to arrive and shake this country out of its collective ennui.

I haven't seen any serious legislation passed in the past 10 years to address the chronic under-funding in grid infrastructure. I've come to the conclusion that Congress never acts, only reacts. So, the real question remains: Will we be subjected to noble sounding sound bites, or will we see new laws and regulations to help utilities site and finance new construction?

I've decided to keep a positive attitude and predict:

• This “glorious darkness” will lead to significant upgrading of our infrastructure.

• The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) will gain the leverage to coerce state authorities to place transmission in congested regions.

• North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC), or a similar entity, will be given the authority to enforce grid operating standards.

• We will install power electronic flow control devices and devise more robust control schemes and policies to stabilize the grid.

Ultimately, this blackout will have the same order of magnitude impact on our business that Three Mile Island had on the nuclear industry. Why do I predict significant change? For the first time in my nine years as editor of T&D World, the mainstream press actually wants to know how the grid works. We are seeing terms including congestion, contingency and conductor sag weaving into the public's collective subconscious. I've been interviewed by both the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, who put together surprisingly detailed articles on how the grid works. Of course, organizations including the FERC, the Department of Energy, the NERC and the Midwest Independent System Operator are being overwhelmed by requests for information by the mainstream media.

CSPAN covered a congressional hearing led by Rep. Joe Barton that focused on the blackout. Under questioning, the NERC CEO, Michael Gent, stated he would like to see NERC have the authority, backed by the FERC, to enforce operating and control standards. FERC Chairman Pat Wood said that sweetened financial incentives to certain transmission entities have already achieved results. Wood specifically mentioned the upgrade of California's Path 15. He also stated that the repeal of the Public Utility Company Holding Act (PUCHA) would encourage significant new investment in the grid.

History tells us that blackouts spawn new transmission. Just look at the Northwest. After the 1996 West Coast blackout, the Bonneville Power Administration has been able to convert the dark into major grid upgrades.

As a country, it seems that the only way we can appreciate the light is to experience the dark. Let's put aside acrimony and finger pointing. Now is the time to rebuild our grid.

Editors Note: T&D World has convened an executive forum to address critical power-delivery infrastructure and reliability needs. FERC Senior Energy Policy Advisor Alison Silverstein will address the role FERC will play in strengthening the grid. Also speaking are Stephen Whitley, senior vice president and COO of ISO New England, and Ken Donahoo, manager of system planning with ERCOT. For more information, see “The Real World of Power Delivery” on page 89 of this issue.