Feeder cables - the root of This evil

With the power outage in western Queens attributed to malfunctioning feeder cables, The Queens Courier decided to reach out to Con Edison for an explanation of exactly what they are and what they do.
According to Chris Olert, a Con Edison spokesperson, a &#8220feeder cable” is a 27,000 volt circuit that carries power from high voltage (600 – 1,000 amperes) transmission lines (which bring electricity from generators to local sub-stations). Off the feeder cables there are &#8220transmission feeders,” and off these are &#8220distribution feeders.”
Lines from the distribution feeders bring 110 or 220 volts of electricity to individual homes and offices. With 126,000 miles of cables – about two thirds of which are underground – Con Edison divides its service area into 78 networks, with each containing from six to 24 feeder cables.
And while one or two downed feeder cables may not affect service, the widespread blackout in Long Island City, Astoria, Sunnyside, Hunters Point and Woodside was caused by the loss of 10 of the 22 feeders in that network.
&#8220We don’t know why the feeders failed,” said Olert. &#8220But once we get the power back we’ll take the damaged equipment and analyze it.”
Local politicians, including Councilmember Eric Gioia and Assemblymember Michael Gianaris, are taking Con Edison to task, saying that their electrical infrastructure is old and in disrepair.
However, Olert disputes this, saying, &#8220Age is not necessarily a factor of performance.”
Neither, he says, is demand.
&#8220Over the last 10 years, customers’ power needs have risen 20 percent,” he said. &#8220But Con Edison’s supply is adequate.”
A study released by the New York State Energy Planning Board in 2000 found that, in comparison to New York State, New York City had a significantly lower rate of service interruptions per customer. It also found that, despite the fact that capital investments declined from $304.4 million in 1988 to $90 million in 1998, the reliability of the state’s transmission system improved during the same period.