Source data
Selected outage, restoration and review milestones from the August 2003 blackout
Sources checked
- 14 August, 16:10Ontario demand measured 24,099 MW.
- 14 August, 16:17Ontario demand measured 2,574 MW.
- Within 30 hoursOntario’s power system was restored.
- 22 August, 20:00The public conservation appeal ended.
- April 2004The joint task force published its final report.
Ontario restored its electricity system before the generation fleet returned to normal capability. The timeline keeps the two milestones separate.
Selected outage, restoration and review milestones from the August 2003 blackout
Times are those shown in the Ontario system operator’s account. The Ontario demand measurements and cross-border interrupted load describe different geographic areas. Megawatts measure power at a point in time.
| Source | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 August 2003, 16:10 | Ontario demand immediately before the outage | 24,099 MW on the IESO chart | Source 1 |
| 14 August 2003, 16:11 | Widespread loss of power begins | About 61,800 MW of load interrupted across the affected region | Source 1 |
| 14 August 2003, 16:17 | Ontario demand after the sharp drop | 2,574 MW on the IESO chart | Source 1 |
| Within 30 hours | Ontario’s power system restored | IESO reports the system restoration interval | Source 1 |
| 22 August 2003, 20:00 | Ontario’s public conservation appeal ended | IESO says its generation fleet had returned to normal production capability | Source 1 |
| April 2004 | US and Canadian task force publishes final report | Joint review covered the outage and response | Source 3 |