"NERC and the industry have taken a number of key steps to improve reliability in the wake of last summer's blackout," said Michael Gent, NERC's president and CEO. "If all entities comply with NERC reliability standards, then there should be no uncontrolled blackouts."
However, NERC warns that under conditions of high demand caused by extreme weather, high unit unavailability, or other factors, the areas of southwestern Connecticut, New York City, and Long Island might be susceptible to reliability problems. California could face similar challenges if adverse conditions arise.