ConEd Blames NYC Blackout on an ‘Overly Sensitive’ Relay System

An “overly sensitive” relay protection system is to blame for a power failure that plunged parts of Manhattan’s west side into darkness for hours over the weekend, according to Consolidated Edison Inc.

The system, designed to detect electrical faults and keep them from spreading, overreacted to a cable that had burned at West 64th Street and West End Avenue, utility spokesman Sidney Alvarez said by telephone Monday. Instead of just isolating the 13,000-volt power line that failed, he said, it took down other parts of ConEd’s network, leading to the widespread power failure that knocked out the lights in Times ...