Shedding light on blackouts

Analysis of recent disturbances reveals some common threads among them, leading to a conclusion that some disturbances can be prevented. As there are no perfect solutions to prevent blackouts, which are usually caused by a complex sequence of cascading events, a number of different measures need to be undertaken to minimize the impact of future disturbances. This paper attempts to list some of the common causes, to offer various solutions, and to highlight the need for prudent investment and deployment of well-defined and coordinated overall plans to prevent blackouts.