Con Ed: The Lightning Did It!

Here’s a shock, Con Ed is being blamed for the [series of blackouts] New Yorkers were privy to yesterday. Con Ed chief executive [Kevin Burke](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/06/28/2007-06-28_zap_crackle_pop.html) says the cause of the nearly hour-long blackout is still under investigation, but that [circuit breakers inexplicably tripped](http://www.nypost.com/seven/06282007/news/regionalnews/e__side_zapped_by_blackout_regionalnews_tom_topousis_______and_jeremy_olshan.htm) at the Astoria substation in Queens, or maybe it was lightning. Except an anonymous source who was present when the power dipped told us that there was in fact no lightning (and we believe him because of his incredible tips regarding the recent [sheep escape](http://www.nypress.com/blogx/display_blog.cfm?bid=54602670&day=14&startmonth=6&startyear=2007)). Either way, [385,000 people](http://www.1010wins.com/pages/622589.php?contentType=4&contentId=643929) were affected, [almost 8,000](http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=71187) of which are Queens customers who spent the entire night without power. Meanwhile, Con Ed is asking for [more money](http://www.nysun.com/article/57453) to improve an old power system they say is to blame for last summer’s Queens blackout. Of course, the [$300 million](http://www.nypress.com/blogx/display_blog.cfm?bid=80845308&day=13&startmonth=6&startyear=2007) sunk into a new substation doesn’t seem to have helped much.