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CNN Live Sunday
Con Ed concerned As New Yorkers Return To Work Tomorrow
Aired August 17, 2003 - 18:24 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: Three days after the massive blackout, New Yorkers are gearing up for a new work week. They'll get back on trains and subways and once again take elevators to their offices. What else is ahead for the cities that are recovering from the outage? Let's ask Michael Okwu who joins us from Time's Square. Good evening.
MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Andrea, good evening to you. Officials here in New York City are concerned that with New Yorkers going back to work for the first full day after the power outage that it may put a little too much strain on the system, and they warn that, if necessary, they may have to implement some rolling blackouts but they say this is really a last resort. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said during this time of the year it is always a concern. Here's the mayor today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY: Conservation in the summer is a very big deal. We just don't have a lot of extra power. We can run normally, but if something happens, you lose a transmission line or you lose a power plant, then you can get into trouble, and you saw that happen with the real reality on Thursday night. So be careful.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
OKWU: Conservation is the very key word here. Officials say, do not leave air conditioners and other nonessential appliances on. Con Edison, the local utility here says that, if they are asked by the state grid operators to start calling some of their very large customers and telling them to cut back on electrical use, like, for example, extra elevators or hallway lights, they will do so, but they say at this point, they see absolutely no reason to do so.
They also say they have plenty of juice. They expect to produce about 10,000 Megawatts tomorrow, far short of the record. Why? Because the forecast calls for very mild temperatures in the very low 80s -- Andrea.
KOPPEL: Michael, I just had have to ask, why, if New York City is to concerned -- or Con Ed is so concerned about the possibility of rolling blackouts don't they turn off some of those lights behind you and let folks have the extra elevators if they need to get to work or go about their business?
OKWU: Well it sure seems that the officials here in New York here are trying to be very careful about all of this. They say at this point, they just want to make sure that New Yorkers have gotten the message.
There are really two issues here. The first is, the fact that the grid system was antiquated. And the other one being that maybe we take things for granted, we take those little things for granted. So their concern is they want to make sure that everybody does their part. They have to play a part. They're hoping the consumer also play a part as well -- Andrea.
KOPPEL: Well, that's good news. At least we know the air conditioning works and the lights are on and I guess we'll just have to see what happens tomorrow.
Michael Okwu joining us from Time's Square, thank you.
And that is it for CNN LIVE SUNDAY. we hope that you'll stay with us for our special on Iraq. The people behind the news stories.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired August 17, 2003 - 18:24 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: Three days after the massive blackout, New Yorkers are gearing up for a new work week. They'll get back on trains and subways and once again take elevators to their offices. What else is ahead for the cities that are recovering from the outage? Let's ask Michael Okwu who joins us from Time's Square. Good evening.
MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Andrea, good evening to you. Officials here in New York City are concerned that with New Yorkers going back to work for the first full day after the power outage that it may put a little too much strain on the system, and they warn that, if necessary, they may have to implement some rolling blackouts but they say this is really a last resort. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said during this time of the year it is always a concern. Here's the mayor today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY: Conservation in the summer is a very big deal. We just don't have a lot of extra power. We can run normally, but if something happens, you lose a transmission line or you lose a power plant, then you can get into trouble, and you saw that happen with the real reality on Thursday night. So be careful.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
OKWU: Conservation is the very key word here. Officials say, do not leave air conditioners and other nonessential appliances on. Con Edison, the local utility here says that, if they are asked by the state grid operators to start calling some of their very large customers and telling them to cut back on electrical use, like, for example, extra elevators or hallway lights, they will do so, but they say at this point, they see absolutely no reason to do so.
They also say they have plenty of juice. They expect to produce about 10,000 Megawatts tomorrow, far short of the record. Why? Because the forecast calls for very mild temperatures in the very low 80s -- Andrea.
KOPPEL: Michael, I just had have to ask, why, if New York City is to concerned -- or Con Ed is so concerned about the possibility of rolling blackouts don't they turn off some of those lights behind you and let folks have the extra elevators if they need to get to work or go about their business?
OKWU: Well it sure seems that the officials here in New York here are trying to be very careful about all of this. They say at this point, they just want to make sure that New Yorkers have gotten the message.
There are really two issues here. The first is, the fact that the grid system was antiquated. And the other one being that maybe we take things for granted, we take those little things for granted. So their concern is they want to make sure that everybody does their part. They have to play a part. They're hoping the consumer also play a part as well -- Andrea.
KOPPEL: Well, that's good news. At least we know the air conditioning works and the lights are on and I guess we'll just have to see what happens tomorrow.
Michael Okwu joining us from Time's Square, thank you.
And that is it for CNN LIVE SUNDAY. we hope that you'll stay with us for our special on Iraq. The people behind the news stories.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
