HAARP related to NY blackout?, page 5

I used to work in a control room of a chemical plant in the UK and had regular contact with our own on site power plant that produces electricity, steam and clean water all in one.

Some basic stuff I learnt while talking to the staff during my time there were as follows:

If the factory was going to do something major like start up an entire manufacturing line and associated services they needed warning, quite a bit too to begin generating steam which in turn is used to make the required electricity. They would typically ask me for one hours notice at least and preferably three hours notice of anything dramatic so they can prepare for us. If I did not and forgot (as I often did) they would phone me complaining that Im sucking the life out of them and affecting their other users of their power. Apparently it was all shared out.

Likewise, if I shutdown in an emergency (exotherm for example) I would get equally irrate phonecalls because they are making massive amounts of steam which is suddenly not needed and has to be released somewhere either in a controlled manner or through relief valves. Also the boilers have to be ramped down to stop the boil. The staff told me it is not easy or preferable to shut something down in such a manner - it is a shock to the plant system and can break things and is dangerous. Things are done nice and slowly in those places.

Power is billed out to the distributer as demand dictates. So at busy times like in the morning when everyone wakes up and boils the hot water for example, a powerstation is contracted to provide X amount of power. They have to produce the exact amount that is needed. Too much and it costs the powerstation money because they exceed the demand and the distributer is not contracted to pay, too little and they fall foul of their contracted amount and run the risk of penalties. They also have to accomadate dips and other peaks in the day. Everything is planned in advance. Somebody can't just flick a switch.

The plant I worked in was built in the late 90's and was all computer controlled. Not state of art but a mixture of old and new. Computers could never replace all mechanical parts so two things really; the computer control network was self contained and not connected to the outside world to prevent unauthorised access and also you have to close things down physically and purposefully to stop the plant working. Things don't just sit there because it isn't safe. If something happens you have to start up quickly (very quickly) to avoid massive blips or you stay shut down and do it in a controlled manner.

People nearby to the powerplant where I was could hear the bangs and pops of emergency shutdowns, see the clouds of steam and smell the weird smells from the boilers. They used to complain to the company and the local press.

So what I am getting at is:

Were the US plants ready for what happened? Has the staff or local folk said anything to local papers?

Did the plants try to start back up immediately and keep trying or did they go for full safety shutdown?

Around those plants did it seem unusual - smells/large clouds of steam etc. If it was a clear nights you could see it for miles indicating quick shut downs? No steam clouds means no suprise.

An entire power grid cannot be turned off. It is a joint thing. There is no master switch I am aware of. Things have to be turned off in an orderly and purposeful manner throughout the grid.

Legal action will sure follow this due to the many various contracts involved in the distributin of power. Who wins what with what case/defence will be interesting to see.

If I did not warn the powerplant I was starting up a line they complained I sucked all their energy away. Did something big start up out of the normal without warning that used a massive amount of energy creating a spike and a resultant void in the power supply like the plant I worked in often did?

Just a few things I thought of when reading this thread.