Grid Innovations

Our Fragile, Challenged Electric System

Sept. 10, 2013

Is our electric system better than it was 10 years ago?

With the recent anniversary of the historic 2003 Northeast Blackout, the short answer is, “Yes, but it is still a long way from what it should be.”

While national reliability standards have been adopted, making it far less likely that falling trees in Ohio will take out power in the northeast for over 24 hours, more needs to be done to bolster an electric system that remains fragile, challenged, and in need of overhaul.

The lights stay on when we generate a sufficient supply of power, and effectively transmit it. Unfortunately, there are areas with power supply issues in the northeast, as well as in other areas of the country, and balkanized transmission systems predominantly built, designed, and engineered decades ago for local utilities to move power only over short distances.

In particular, while downstate New York has squeaked by the past few hot summers from a supply standpoint, the potential closure of a number of power plants, an overall lack of new generation in the pipeline, and growing demand are among the issues that must be addressed.

Reflections of this are the calls to close Indian Point, which provides 25 percent of New York City and the Lower Hudson Valley’s power. The New York Independent System Operator, has expressed serious concern about this because it views the continued operation of this facility essential.

In this context, the areas needing to be addressed in New York serve as a good example for the rest of the country in striving to establish and maintain world-class electrical systems.

Improve the Transmission Grid. A 2012 report by the New York State Transmission and Reliability Study (STARS) found that approximately $25 billion must be spent to replace large sections of the electric power grid. These investments must be undertaken in the near future, starting with those that have the greatest benefits for the least cost.
Reduce Reliance on Out-of-State Power. Electricity is a manufactured product that was first deployed in downtown New York City. In recent years, New York has become increasingly reliant on out-of-state power from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Canada. This trend must be tempered by constructing more plants in New York providing a greater measure of reliability.
Realize Electricity Demand will Grow. Too often in recent years official policies have placed too much reliance on efficiency programs to manage the future growth of electric demand. Efficiency, however, has to be recognized as only a partial remedy, since population and economic growth, and the increased use of electronic devices, as just a few examples, will continue to grow the demand for electricity.
Gear up for a Cyber-Attack. Many experts believe it is a question of when and not if our enemies will launch a cyber-attack on the electric grid and there are a number of prime targets throughout the US. Amid budget sequestration and national fiscal uncertainty, it is essential that programs to deal with such attacks be fully funded.
Be Ready for the Next Superstorm. Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Irene left millions in the northeast without power for days, some for even several weeks. With extreme weather events happening more frequently, the grid must be hardened to lessen the impact of such storms. To address these matters, Con Ed has requested a rate increase amounting to three percent of a typical customer’s bill should.

Establishing and maintaining a world-class generation and transmission system will provide sustained, long-term stimulus to the economy, reduce carbon and other toxic emissions, and enhance public safety. However, these challenges and opportunities cannot be realized overnight and require a sustained and determined effort, similar to how the utility industry has responded to significant challenges time and time again in the past..

About the Author

Matthew Cordaro, PhD | Trustee at Long Island Power Authority

Dr. Matthew C. Cordaro, whose career spans many years as a senior executive in the utility industry, an educator, scientist and researcher in the fields of business, energy and environment, most recently was the Dean of the Townsend School of Business at Dowling College. Before moving over to Dowling he was at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University in the College of Management where over his tenure he served in a number of high level administrative, academic and research positions. Dr. Cordaro has served as the Chairman of the Suffolk County Legislature’s Utility Oversight Committee and recently was appointed by the New York State Assembly Leader to the Long Island Power Authority’s Board of Trustees.

Just prior to joining Long Island University Dr. Cordaro served as the first President and Chief Executive Officer of the Midwest Independent System Operator (Midwest ISO) based in Indianapolis, Indiana, the largest independent transmission system operator in the nation. Today the Midwest ISO is responsible for electric reliability and markets covering 57,000 miles of transmission lines and 150,000 Megawatts of electric generation and clears over 23 billion dollars in energy transactions, over an area exceeding 200,000 square miles, and extending into 13 states and one province of Canada.

Previously, Dr. Cordaro was employed as President and Chief Executive Officer of Nashville Electric Service, one of the ten largest public electric utilities in the nation. He also previously served as President of Long Lake Cogeneration Corporation and as Senior Vice President of Long Lake Energy Corporation, a major alternative energy producer. For 22 years he was with Long Island Lighting Company, a major investor-owned utility, finally holding the position of Senior Vice President of Operations, Engineering, and Construction.

Dr. Cordaro is currently a member of the New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance’s advisory board. He is a past member of the board of directors of the Electric Power Research Institute, the American Public Power Association, and the Nature Conservancy of Tennessee, and has served on the editorial advisory boards of World Transmission and Distribution magazine and the Long Island Business News. Dr. Cordaro has also testified many times before congressional and state legislative committees and is frequently sought by the media for expert commentary.

Dr. Cordaro holds a Ph.D. in Physics and Engineering from Cooper Union, an M.E. in Nuclear Engineering from New York University, a B.S. in Engineering Science from C. W. Post College and completed the Executive Management Program at the University of Michigan. He has also been an Atomic Energy Commission Fellow, a Guest Research Associate at the Brookhaven National Laboratory, and has served as an adjunct faculty member at Polytechnic Institute of New York and C. W. Post College. Dr. Cordaro has also authored many publications on education, business, energy, environment and utility issues.