United Kingdom: Blackouts Decision Made
The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM; London) has found that the National Grid Co. (NGC, Gallows Hill, Warwick) did not breach its legal obligations because of 2003's blackouts in London and Birmingham. But, after an extensive 10-month investigation, the OFGEM does not give NGC a clean bill of health over the blackouts.
OFGEM found the blackouts were caused by a series of unrelated events, some of which were the result of mistakes by NGC. These were judged against the NGC's legal obligations under the Electricity Act and its license, to operate, develop and maintain an efficient, coordinated and economical transmission system. The errors were not enough to find NGC in breach of its legal obligations, but there was concern about the adequacy of certain installation procedures and lack of evidence to show that proper procedures had been followed.
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