Ten Million People without Power in Grid breakdown, London!

[KoKo]

CNN, MSNBC report. People trapped in subways.

This is the day Blair gave his testimony where he admits he outed Dr. Kelly.........And what news was there about Bush when our grid when down. And, aren't the company that owns the Ohio grid (can't remember the name) the same company that handles the power in London?

Hmmm?????? Either it's a coincidence or that power company has some major problems!

[arcane1]

1. I envision Greg Palaat typing away at this very moment

to confirm your suspicions

[Jacobin]

2. That de-regulation is working like a charm.....

[madfloridian]

3. National Grid there owns Niagara Mohowk here.

And I agree it seems strange. I am unabashedly wearing my hat all the time now.

:tinfoilhat:

[Solomon]

6. Me Too!

What the hell. Might as well wear it twenty-four/seven. Its sure easier than trying to believe the shit they're shoveling on everything. I think we've reached the point where presumption of foul play should attach to anything this administration does.

[tom_paine]

16. The Soviet's Dilemna

Whe you are living in an Orwellian-Totalitarian Society like the Soviet Union, or one that is rapidly erasing it's Tradition of Freedom and heading towards an Orwellian-Totalitarian configuration, who knows what to believe?

It's all bullshit.

Now we can say that the Imperial Subjects of Amerika are dumber than their Soviet Counterparts, but how long did the Commies have to shit in their faces and tell them it was chocolate pudding before they realized what "Pravda" really meant.

And our Imperial Family has only been doing it openly for three years now.

I'll bet Stalin still had a 53% approval rating in 1925.

So it goes so it goes.

"A society of sheep will eventually beget a goverment of wolves."
--Betrand de Jouvanel

[slackmaster]

4. Must have been deregulation

:shrug:

Maybe they can blame it on Gray Davis.

[Capn Sunshine]

5. The same deregulation in place there; the same companies

Read Greg Palast's commentary on this. It DOES seem a trifle contrived though, in light of things? ( pun intended!!)

As soon as they were able, the * administartion yestreday gutted the regulations that prevented the rehab of the oldest generators---because the profit wasn't as great if you had to install the most modern anti-pollution equipment on older , more profitable generators.

God DAMN, we are so fucking stupid sometimes.
:grr::grr::grr::grr:

[KoKo]

7. Here's the company "National Grid Transco" is the Company GB/US Link:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,3604,1019663,00.html

National Grid shares fall after US
blackouts

Agencies
Friday August 15, 2003

Shares in National Grid Transco today fell amid fears that the
company may be liable for damages from the huge power failure
that struck the US.

National Grid owns Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation (Nimo),
a major provider of
electricity to the
north-eastern US. Nimo
said it had restored power
to most customers in its
New York service area, and
rejected reports it was the
cause of the blackout that
left most of New York City
shrouded in the dark.
(SNIP)

A spokeswoman for National Grid, which has led growing British
interest in deregulating power industries in the US, said the
causes of the outage were still being investigated.

(SNIP)
Analysts said that protection from liability and insurance should
limit any potential impact on the earnings of National Grid, the
UK's largest power firm.

"Unless it is established that Nimo was grossly negligent,
National Grid's exposure should be limited to the cost of
restoring service," said Fraser McLaren, analyst at ING.

[wryter2000]

8. The same company?

The same company as owns the Ohio grid? What in *&^)*)( is going on here?

Any UK DUers throw some light (pardon the pun) on this? Anyone from the UK with power, obviously.

:wtf:

[madfloridian]

10. The one Palast said had laid off 800 here to economize.

In the US the company they own is Niagara Mohowk. Is First Energy a part of that?

[htuttle]

9. The ice age is coming, the sun is zooming in

Meltdown expected and the wheat is growing thin
Engines stop running, but I have no fear
London is drowning-and I live by the river


National Grid Transco is the sort of company that likes to increase profits by laying off maintenance personnel. That they would see power outages on these systems after doing so should not be a huge shock.

[proud patriot]

11. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Interesting development ....I Wonder what happened

[slackmaster]

12. Latest news report says a transformer blew

And trains are already starting to roll again.

What could it all mean?

[Tinoire]

13. Jeez! Thanks Koko for linking the 2

There are several HUGE things going on right now though so many seem to be passing under the radar.

Aug 27. Mars threads in the DU Meeting Room . Closest Mars has ever been to earth in 60,000 years. Lots of typically Mars-related events were predicted and have been going on this entire week.

Thanks Koko

Kucinich 2004


August 27 to 28 - Sun/Mars opposition;

THE INTERACTIVE INTERNET WORLD PEACE SITE

----------------------------------------------------------------------We believe that The interaction of seven planets is connected to recent extreme events around the world:
the overheating of French Nuclear Reactors, North America's massive power outage, the blowing up of the U.N. hotel in Baghdad, a renewal of suicide bombing in Jerusalem and over 90 people murdered in Kabul, Afghanistan.
---------------------

This rare alignment is likely to cause extreme solar flares resulting in:
Thought confusion.
A heightened sexual tension.
Interference to electronics, power lines, satellites, cellphones, aircraft, ATMs, etc.
A change in Earth's Magnetic Axis which could result in permanent changes to weather patterns.
Increased anxiety, nervousness and lack of sleep.
---

Extreme effects should start around 8/11/2003 and start to lessen around 9/9/2003.
A peak of influence should occur on August 27, 2003 as Mars comes the closest to Earth in some 60,000 years.

http://www.365astrology.com/

[althecat]

14. Cleveland Plain Dealer Reports East Coast Blackout due to computers

http://www.cleveland.com/blackout/index.ssf?/base/business/1062063705274651.xml

Computers crashed just before blackout

08/28/03

John Funk Teresa Dixon Murray and Tom Breckenridge
Plain Dealer Reporters


FirstEnergy Corp. could not see mounting transmission line problems in the crucial hour before the Aug. 14 blackout because its key computers were down, according to at least two municipal electric systems.

Whether the computer troubles were the result of hardware or software problems was not known yesterday. Investigators from the Department of Energy have visited the utility's Akron control center, said spokesman Ralph DiNicola.

FirstEnergy is detailing how the control center computers operated that day for the DOE, said DiNicola. He repeatedly declined to say whether there were any computer problems.

*****

So is this the same company involved in London or what?

If so to lose power in one metropolis and mega market might be seen as unfortunate. To lose power in two is downright careless.

Funny how both failures occurred at the same time of the day too.

[SoCalDem]

15. Black & Veatch???

guess I gotta go googling :)..What a co-in-kee-dink..


About EDF Energy
Overview
EDF Energy is one of the largest energy companies in the UK. We employ more than 11,000 people, supply gas and electricity to over 5 million customers, and are a major generator.
As one of the largest regulated and private networks operators in the UK we distribute electricity to over a quarter of the country’s population. We’re one of the few vertically integrated companies, which means we manage energy from the moment it’s harnessed, to the second it’s used, with expertise in generation, distribution and supply.

In the last five years we've transformed into a major, national energy player with the acquisition of the supply businesses of SWEB Energy and Seeboard Energy; the Sutton Bridge, West Burton and Cottam power stations, and the TXU and Seeboard networks businesses. We’re also one of the largest developers of offshore wind generation in the UK.

Because our business has changed, so has our identity. The time’s right to show we all work for one company, EDF Energy, and to be proud of what we stand for. It’ll make it easier for people to understand all the things we do.

EDF Energy has three key stakeholders: our customers, our people and our shareholder, EDF Group. We’ve got a duty to them, but we know we’ve also a responsibility to the broader community.

On this site you can find out more about what we believe in, how we’re structured and what we do, as well as information about our parent, EDF Group.


http://www.le-group.co.uk/index.asp?template=/about/financial_summary.html&language=en&mode=production

Financial Summary
2002 was a year of significant growth and major improvement in our financial performance.
Here’s a summary of our financial performance in 2002.


Summary financial statements
These summary financial statements have been taken from the consolidated financial statements of EDF Group, which have been prepared in accordance with EDF Group accounting policies, that are in compliance with current French regulations.
The financial information contained in the summary financial statements does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. Statutory accounts for the year to 31 December 2002 have been filed with the Registrar of Companies, upon which the auditors issued an unqualified opinion.


Summarised Profit and Loss Account
for the year ended 31 December 2002 2002
£m 2001
£m


Turnover 2,835 1,943

Cost of sales (1,866) (1,512)

Gross profit 969 431

Operating costs (357) (121)

EBITDA 612 310

Depreciation and amortisation (284) (152)

Operating profit 328 158

Property disposals 8 12

Associates and minorities (5) 10

Profit from operations 331 180

Interest (148) (100)

Profit before taxation 183 80

Tax (60) (27)

Profit after taxation 123 53

The contribution of EDF results is £91 million after attributing the amortisation of EDF goodwill.


Summarised Balance Sheet
for the year ended 31 December 2002 2002
£m 2001
£m


ASSETS

Fixed assets - intangible 1,364 450

Fixed assets - tangible 6,733 3,122

Investments 69 42

Current assets 852 691

Cash deposits 147 46


LIABILITIES

Liabilities (including current) (2,358) (832)

Tax liabilities (1,147) (687)

Long term debt (3,566) (1,719)

Net assets 2,094 1,113



Shareholders' funds 2,094 1,113



Auditors’ Statement to the Shareholders of London Electricity Group Holdings plc.*
We have examined the summary financial information relating to London Electricity Group Holdings plc*, set out in the summary financial statements above, which has been extracted from the consolidated accounts of Electricité de France (“EDF”) and prepared in accordance with EDF Group accounting policies. The summary financial information is the responsibility of, and has been approved by, the directors.

This report is made solely to the company’s members, as a body, in accordance with the directors’ instructions. To the fullest extent required by the law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company’s members as a body, for our work, for this statement, or for the opinions we have formed.


Respective responsibilities of directors and auditors
The directors are responsible for preparing the summarised financial information. Our responsibility is to report to you our opinion as to whether the summary financial information within the Annual Review has been correctly extracted from the audited consolidated financial statements of EDF Group and correctly translated to pounds sterling. We also read the other information contained in the Annual Review and consider the implications for our report if we become aware of any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the summary financial statement.

Opinion
In our opinion the information, which has been prepared in accordance with EDF Group accounting policies, has been correctly extracted from the audited consolidated financial statements of EDF Group and correctly translated to pounds sterling for the year ended 31 December 2002.
Ernst & Young LLP, London
7 May 2003
* Our name changed to EDF Energy on 30 June 2003.



http://www.psiru.org/companydetails.asp?Companyid=40

Company Name: Black & Veatch

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Home country: UK
Black & Veatch (UK) Ltd
The Lansdowne Building
Lansdowne Road
Croydon
CRO 2BX
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
European Works:
Directors
PG Adam (Chairman & CEO): PG Davidson, JL Patton, JH Robinson, LC Rodman,(all listed as Managing Partners): Wayne F Hall (Executive Partner): PD Hoffman, KI Daniel, WJ Horton,(listed as Vice Presidents): GC Hedemann (Executive Partner): JJ Farr, KP Woodward (General Partners): WE Morgan (Partner): JH Robinson (Managing Partner) several other general "partners" also listed!! see Ann Report

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Last Updated:


PSIRU Capsule
The following profile provides you with summary information on the company you have requested. Further details may be available in the Finance, Contracts and News sections.

HISTORY:
The company was formed in June 1989.

OWNERSHIP:
The company is a subsidairy of Black & Veatch International, incorporated in the USA. Address: 8400 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, Missouri 64114, USA.

DIRECTORS:
All the directors are based in the US except D Mazany who is based in London.

ACTIVITIES:
During 1994, the most recent accounts available, the company continued to provide management services and software to certain Tarmac Construction Ltd companies as part of a joint venture agreement with Tarmac Construction Ltd.

Black & Veatch (UK) Ltd has entered into other joint ventures with Tarmac: TBV Science, TBV Consult, TBV Consulting Services, TBV London, TBV Environment, TBV Holding, TBV Inston, TBV Power, TBV Professional Services, TBV Science, TBV Technologies.
In 1994 another agreement with Tarmac Contruction Ltd was entered into to form a company to pursue architechtural and engineering projects.

In 1995 the parent company based in the US signed a binding agreement to merge with Binnie and Partners, a British firm of consulting engineers.

FINANCES:
The company’s associated undertaking owned jointly with Tarmac Construction Ltd, TBV Power Ltd - a turnkey contractor in the power generation industry - recorded a substantial loss for the year following provision for the estimated loss arising from a claim on one of its contracts. During the year TBV Power received a claim from a customer, which went into litigation. The directors of TBV Power consider that a best the company would break even and at worst lose £60m but a court decision will not be taken until 1997 (see News). On the basis of the profit sharing arrangement between the company and Tarmac relating to this contract, one third of any loss is attributable to Black & Veatch.
At the end of 1994, the company’s investment in TBV Power amounted to £3,050,000 comprising £50,000 in share capital and £3,000,000 in loans. The directors have made provision against both. Since the year end (1994) further loans totalling £10,720,041 have been advanced by the company to TBV Power.

[Jen72]

17. Blair gave his testimony in time to make the 1 o'clock news.

It was already being well covered by the time the power went at around 6.15pm.The BBC evening news starts at Six and the Blair testimony had already been covered.
The power cut lasted no more than 40 minutes and in no way interfeared with the news cycle or this mornings headlines.
I live in the London and was without power in my home, I don't know why it happened or how but it was not a conspricy. I can't see it's purpose if it was.