Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, D.C., Philadelphia under temporary…

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorHere is the one-sentence version: the federal government told a huge power grid operator to get ready so the lights stay on.

2. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThat sounds like a big deal, Hank. Who exactly got the order, and what does it cover?

3. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe Department of Energy ordered the operator, which covers all or part of thirteen states and the District of Columbia, to ready equipment and backup generation.

4. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThirteen states. And the emergency is temporary, so it's less a crisis and more a very serious heads-up?

5. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorTemporary, yes. The Washington Times reports it applies to Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Washington and Philadelphia, and the stated goal is to prevent blackouts.

6. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorPrevent. I love a verb that hasn't happened yet.

7. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorIt's a precaution. Nothing in the report says the lights have gone out, only that the order is meant to keep it that way.

8. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo how did we get here? Why does a grid need an emergency order at all?

9. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe report doesn't say what set this off, so it's not clear yet. The order simply tells the operator to be ready.

10. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorFair. Think of it as the grid packing a go-bag.

11. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorA go-bag the size of a power plant. Backup generation is the extra electricity that can be switched on when demand runs high.

12. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo who actually feels this? Is my phone charger in danger?

13. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorPossibly millions of people. The editor's angle is that temporary emergencies in big cities like these could mean outages if things go wrong.

14. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorMillions.

15. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorCould. Not will. That difference is the entire story tonight, and I'd like it kept.

16. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorWhat are the two sides here? Is anyone saying the order is too much, or not enough?

17. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorNothing in our reporting shows a dispute.

18. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe sensible view is that getting ready early is cheap compared with a blackout, though how much it costs isn't clear.

19. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorAnd what do we watch next?

20. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorWhether the operator reports its backup is in place, and whether the emergency is lifted or extended. No date has been given in our data.

21. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo the one-sentence version, now that I get it: the government told the grid to stretch before the big game.

22. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorClose enough. Be ready, so nobody sits in the dark.

23. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorIf it goes dark I'm bringing candles to the studio, Hank, a whole box of them.

24. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorChip, the studio runs on the same grid. You'd be lighting the candles on air, in the dark, alone.