Canada's Independent Electricity Market Operator (IMO) has released a chronology of the events in Ontario immediately prior to and following the blackout that affected most of the province on Aug. 14, 2003. The detailed chronology outlines the IMO's efforts, in cooperation with other market participants including Hydro One, Ontario Power Generation and Bruce Power, to restore the power system.

“While the cause of the event is still under investigation, this information clearly confirms that the incident did not originate in Ontario,” said Dave Goulding, president and CEO of the IMO. “There were significant power swings across the whole region, including New York and Ontario, during the event. However, those swings into and out of the province were not caused in or by Ontario.”

“The devices that are in place to protect equipment on Ontario's bulk electricity system during events such as this, operated as planned,” said Goulding. The IMO was observing normal conditions prior to the disturbance, with demand at 24,050 MW. Available electricity in Ontario dropped to 1200 MW, with most customers east of Wawa losing power.

Visit www.tdworld.com for the detailed chronology.