By Jim Orlando; jorlando@nisource.com
Twas the 14th of August and thru many states
Not a lightbulb was burning, something NERC really hates
MISO was nestled all snug in his chair
Just twiddling his thumbs, with nary a care
The frequency chart moved so lively and quick
He thought for a moment, the meter was sick
But the chart that reads 60 spiked up to new heights
Something had to be done, or there’d be folks without lights
And back in Ohio where energy’s first
A line had let loose, made a bad matter worse
That line was the first, the rest followed like sheep
There was many a lineman about to loose sleep
The lights started to flicker, and then they were gone
That’s when the phone rang it didn’t take long
MISO was calling to check on Ohio’s Grid
But the computer was down, and breaker ops hid
Hanna was down and Juniper too
No one was sure of just quite what to do
As control area went down, one after another
NERC took the lead, just like the hen mother
And laying a finger aside of her nose
And giving a nod, all the schedules were froze
From Detroit to New York the power had faded
Our power they said, the Canadians raided
Power was back, by the end of day two
Except for up North, they were left in the stew
50 million were left with lights that don’t work
Placing the blame was the vow made by NERC
Fingers began pointing in a matter of weeks
At Indy and Akron they say something stinks
Blaming Canada only proved to be futile
Twas 1st Energy, that got the wet noodle