Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
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	Press Releases November 20, 2003   LIEBERMAN CALLS AUGUST BLACKOUT "ENTIRELY AVOIDABLE" Next Phase of Investigation Should Focus on Regulators' Role in Overseeing System Reliability   WASHINGTON – Governmental Affairs Committee Ranking Member Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., Wednesday issued the following statement in response to the Department of Energy’s report on the August 14, 2003, blackout: “The principal conclusion of the Department of Energy’s interim report on the August 14th blackout is that it was entirely avoidable. It was not caused by too much demand, or too little supply, or hot August weather, but in the best light by human error, and in the worst by human negligence. “The report documents how a major utility company in Ohio -- FirstEnergy -- made mistake after mistake, beginning with its failure to maintain its transmission line rights-of-way, and its failure to understand what was happening to its own utility system or even to its own control room when computerized control systems failed to operate properly. “Weaknesses in the ability of the Midwest independent electric grid operator to oversee FirstEnergy left it unable to understand the rapid deterioration of the FirstEnergy transmission system or to take action to address it. “Unfortunately, this report does not examine the roles of institutions that were supposed to watch over FirstEnergy and the Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO) and the electric transmission grid, such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), or the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC). And as my hearings on the California energy crisis confirmed, even though FERC regulates the transmission grid and grants system operators, such as MISO, the authority it has to manage the grid, FERC continues to insist that it has no real responsibility for system reliability or blackouts like the one that occurred on August 14th. “While it may have been appropriate for FERC and NERC to be involved in this early fact-finding phase of the investigation, I call upon Secretary Abraham to ensure that the next phase of this investigation fully examines the roles of all of the institutional participants to understand why the regulatory system did not prevent this otherwise preventable catastrophe.” -30-   ###   Printable Version   « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 November 2003 Press Releases October   |  December   --   2002   |  2004     November 25 - Waxman, Dingell, Lieberman Seek Investigations of Halliburton Gasoline Importations to Iraq   November 20 - Lieberman Troubled By “Unreasonable” White House Limits On 9/11 Commission Access To Key Documents   November 20 current Press Release   November 19 - Lieberman Urges Stronger Measure to Restore Investor Confidence in Mutual Funds   November 18 - Lieberman Says Tax Shelters Must Have Economic Substance To Deter Industry Built Around Tax Evasion   November 18 - Lieberman Supports Amendment Outlawing Senior Discount   November 13 - Lieberman Applauds Dodd/Corzine Plan   November 13 - NPS Employees Say Parks Are In Danger   November 13 - Iron Curtain Of Secrecy Around White House Must Be Raised   November 12 - Administration Fails To Certify Labs Using Anthrax, Smallpox   November 11 - Federal Poverty Calculations Mask True Economic Status of Most Vulnerable Citizens   November 7 - Lieberman, Durbin Press OIRA On Openness, Accountability   November 6 - Lieberman Says NYSE Cannot Regulate Itself   November 5 - Lieberman Calls on Halliburton to Refund American Taxpayers   November 5 - Lieberman: Mutual Fund Reform Bill is Important Step Toward Restoring Integrity to Embattled Industry   November 4 - Leading Senators Pressure President to Provide Key Documents Condemn White House's "Poor Record of Cooperation"   November 3 - Lieberman Demands Report on Simulation of Terorist Attack Analysis Details Shortcomings of Government Response   November 3 - Congress Votes to Name Hartford Post Office After Former US Rep Barbara B. Kennelly   November 3 - Lieberman Strafes SEC for Lax Oversight of Mutual Funds Middle Class Investors' Trust Abused all Over Again
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Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510