Wrong Signal Shuts Down Cooling Systems
Event Year: | 2009 | Reliability: | Confirmed |
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Country: | United States | ||
Industry Type: | Power and Utilities | ||
Description: | Duke Energy offers an energy saving program to its customers called the Power Management program. Participants have a box installed on their air conditioning unit that cycles the cooling system off for a few minutes during peak usage times. Approximately 18,000 customers participating in the program experienced an outage. An incorrect signal was sent to the boxes according to a company spokesperson. As a result, the boxes shut down instead of cycling. The shutdown lasted for 3 hours. |
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Impact: | An incorrect signal was sent to the energy saving air conditioning control boxes. Instead of cycling, the units were shut down for 3 hours. |