Blackout of a power system: How to avert it without staff participation?

Recent blackouts of major power systems in North America, Europe, Russia and in other parts of the world clearly show the topicality of the blackout problem and the necessity to call attention to this phenomenon once more. Based on thorough analysis, the authors hold that the overloads on transmission lines are the primary cause of cascade-like processes followed by blackout development. The solutions proposed in the paper allow perfecting the anti-emergency protection system, which now is broken in sets. At the same time, the effect of automatic restoration of normal operating conditions is taken on special significance, thus transforming severe emergency into short transient process, which is almost unnoticed to consumers.