On August 14, 2003, all the rides at Cedar Point Amusement Park
in Ohio suddenly stopped. The day was steamy, and so was Chris;
he'd wanted to plunge into cold water on a ride called Snake
River Falls. Michelle, a friend who was visiting from Alabama,
still hadn't ridden Millennium Force by the time the power went
out. And Chris's sister Laura wanted to ride Top Thrill
Dragster. Frustrated, the three friends headed back to
Cleveland. The trip only added to their frustration. With no
traffic lights working, cars crawled.  Last August's blackout
was the biggest ever in U.S. history. From New York to Michigan
and into Canada, 100 power plants shut down. Work halted in
offices, malls, supermarkets, and restaurants. Trains and
subways stopped running. With no electric pumping stations
working, water pressure dropped and some areas lost running
water. Food spoiled as temperatures climbed.  The August 14
blackout underscored how much North Americans rely on
electricity—and lots of it! Just what happened?  Producing