Ontario readied to reopen for business yesterday, with public agencies ordered to provide only essential services and authorities urging consumers and industries in Canada's most populous province to cut normal electrical usage in half to cope with the aftereffects of the crippling blackout.
Several of the largest companies said late Sunday they would comply with the requested 50 percent cutback.
Though there was some good news -- Toronto's subways and streetcars were resuming operations for the first time since the blackout -- officials stressed that the province's power system was several days away from returning to full strength.
"We currently do not have enough generation back on line to see us through a regular week-day," said Premier Ernie Eves.
Ontario would have the capacity to supply 20,500 megawatts yesterday compared with the 23,000 megawatts or more it normally uses on a hot summer weekday, he said.
Eves' appeal for conservation was directed at ordinary consumers as well as businesses. He asked people to use their major household appliances, such as washing machine, between 8pm and 8am, to wash clothes in cold or lukewarm water, and to forego air conditioning if possible.
Bruce Campbell, vice president of the Independent Electricity Marketing Operator that regulates Ontario's power, said the province can import power, as it did Saturday when it received help from Manitoba, Quebec, New York and Minnesota to prevent rolling blackouts.
Toronto officials decided to resume service on the public transit system, which transports more than 1 million people a day, despite the possibility of rolling blackouts yesterday.
The Canadian Bankers Association said banks across the province would be open for business, but would turn off electric signs and curtail air conditioning.
Eves complained that Canadian authorities were not notified about problems occurring in the interconnected power system ahead of the blackout, as required by a protocol established after a severe blackout in 1965.
"After the famous 1965 blackout, North American protocols were established to ensure that interconnected jurisdictions are notified immediately when problems develop in one province or state on the grid," Eves said. "For some reason, that did not happen this past Thursday."
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