By Angela Marshall
Rockville Centre was spared the crippling effects of the blackout because its plant operates separately from the power system that failed. Rolling blackouts throughout the village were necessary because the demand for electricity was higher than the village's eight engines could provide. The village's plan called for everyone to have eight hours on and four off throughout the length of the emergency.
People from all over Nassau County came to the village to eat dinner, get gas or just be someplace where lights were on Thursday night. At 7 p.m. there were almost 60 cars waiting in a double line to get into Anton's Mobil gas station on the north side of Sunrise Highway at Morris Avenue. The cars stretched to Forest Avenue and continued around the corner. Later, when the village turned on the power on Sunrise's south side, similar lines stretched from the Hess and Mobil stations across the street.
Some residents were puzzled by the rolling blackouts because they thought Rockville Centre generated all of its own power. That was true until the early 1980s, when it became more cost-effective to import power from outside sources and use the village's own electric generation to supplement when demand is high. The imported power comes from the New York Power Authority at Niagara Falls, which was at the heart of the blackout.
Rockville Centre's engines are tested monthly, but that doesn't stop problems from occurring. A few minutes into the power outage, the village's oldest engine, No. 7, blew. Village Administrator Ronald Wasson said the engine looks like it is beyond repair. A diesel engine, No. 7 was only used as a last resort, but it played a big role in keeping costs down for the village.
The Independent System Operator (ISO), a state regulatory agency, requires utilities to secure excess capacity beyond what they need to deliver to customers, for added safety and reliability. Losing the 2 megawatts No. 7 was capable of producing could cost the village $15,000 to $20,000 a month.
The village's record electric demand of 50.5 megawatts occurred during the summer of 1995. During the blackout last week, Rockville Centre was producing 29 megawatts. Village officials don't feel it would be prudent to buy enough generators to meet peak summer demand because most of that power would be idle most of the time, and it's far cheaper to import than to build new capacity, said Jeff Kluewer, village spokesman.
By Friday afternoon, the Long Island Power Authority was producing enough electricity to provide the village with five megawatts of power, which along with Rockville Centre's own power helped put an end to the rolling blackouts.Wasson expressed appreciation for LIPA's help.
I would like to commend our residents and businesses for their cooperation and good will during the period of the regional electrical emergency and of the rolling blackouts in Rockville Centre, said Mayor Eugene Murray. Our village departments responded superbly. Electric department crews worked around the clock rotating service with the electricity we had. The entire police department, assisted by the auxiliary police and the fire police, kept traffic flowing smoothly at the affected intersections for hours in the heat and humidity without any accidents. The public works department provided service without interruption.
Jo-Ann Meehan, who brought a friend to the train station Friday morning in the hope that Long Island Rail Road service would soon be restored, commented on how wonderful it was to live in a community with its own electric plant. It's very deceiving living in Rockville Centre, she said. My kids have no idea what it means to be deprived. They really don't.
Jeanie Waters, a 40-year resident, was impressed by the camaraderie she witnessed as volunteers directed traffic at some of the village's major intersections Thursday. Workers from Atlantic Infiniti car dealership and the Pantry Diner helped keep traffic in check at the corner of Merrick and Long Beach roads until police could send someone to take over.
It was just great, said Waters. When fire trucks and ambulances came through, she said, the firefighters honked and waved at the peacekeepers. People were so good here.
No traffic accidents or crimes were attributed to the blackout.
