If this was surprising, then he didn't understand the system in full, because there's a legitimate answer.
The systems at the dam must communicate with the systems controlling the rest of the power grid. They *cannot* successfully operate independently - there are things that can happen out in the rest of the grid that can damage the generators - power backwash is a stone bitch.
So, you're either using the internet, or you are maintaining an entirely separate network infrastructure across the entire country.
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Date: 2009-04-12 12:34 am (UTC)The systems at the dam must communicate with the systems controlling the rest of the power grid. They *cannot* successfully operate independently - there are things that can happen out in the rest of the grid that can damage the generators - power backwash is a stone bitch.
So, you're either using the internet, or you are maintaining an entirely separate network infrastructure across the entire country.