power grid News

Viewpoint: Subrogating Freeze Damage When Texas Power Plants Are Not Dressed For Winter

Successful subrogation against power companies is not a given. In determining whether the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) may be sued for its clear negligence in failing to properly winterize power production facilities and the power grid that it …

Mother Whose 11-Year-Old Son Died in Texas Freeze Sues For $100M

The mother of an 11-year-old boy who died after they lost electricity and heat in their Texas mobile home during last week’s freeze has filed a $100 million lawsuit against two power companies for gross negligence. Maria Pineda said the …

Fires and Virus Converge on California

Californians are in their sixth month of sheltering in place because of a pandemic that’s killed more than 11,000 residents. Now a new crisis — hundreds of wildfires — is forcing people to prepare to flee their homes at a …

FEMA Officials Charged With Puerto Rico Hurricane Aid Fraud

Federal Emergency Management Agency officials who oversaw the reconstruction of Puerto Rico’s electrical grid and the former president of Cobra Acquisitions were arrested on fraud and conspiracy charges linked to recovery efforts from Hurricane Maria, according to federal prosecutors. FEMA’s …

Dorian Set to Lash Puerto Rico Before Hitting Florida Coast

Tropical Storm Dorian is about to lash Puerto Rico with torrential rains, and then is expected to gain strength and become the first major hurricane to hit Florida’s east coast in 15 years. Chances are increasing that the storm will …

Last Customers Being Reconnected to Puerto Rico Power Grid

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Crews were preparing Wednesday to shut down generators that have powered an island off Puerto Rico’s coast — the last customers to be reconnected to the U.S. territory’s main power system 18 months after Hurricane …

Researchers Examine Ways to Protect Power Grids From Hackers

Reliability measures of electrical grid has risen to a new norm as it involves physical security and cybersecurity. Threats to either can trigger instability, leading to blackouts and economic losses. New research led by scientists from Michigan Technological University delves …

Power Grid Attack Could Cause $1T Economic, $70B Insurance Losses

A cyber attack on the U.S. power grid in the Northeast would have far-reaching implications including the loss of lives, economic losses of as much as a trillion dollars, the disruption of water supplies and transportation, and potentially more than …

Scientists Watching Strong Solar Storm Headed Toward Earth

A strong solar flare is blasting its way to Earth, but the worst of its power looks like it will barely skim above the planet and not cause many problems. It has been several years since Earth has had a …

Researchers Find Smaller Power Grids Could Reduce Blackout Risk

Some 90 years ago, British polymath J.B.S. Haldane proposed that for every animal there is an optimal size — one which allows it to make best use of its environment and the physical laws that govern its activities, whether hiding, …