DETROIT — A huge power blackout shut down a major portion of the northeastern United States and part of Canada late Thursday afternoon, Aug. 14, 2003, at approximately 4:10 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Power was slowly being restored on Friday. Officials stated that it might take the entire weekend before power could be fully restored to all affected areas.
The blackout impacted eight states from Connecticut to southeastern Michigan (including the headquarters of The News). The states affected include Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. A portion of the province of Ontario in Canada also lost power.