No, they didn't take down the grid because power was rerouted; but those transformers were "toast" and it took about a month to get them replaced. I read some speculation that with the cutting of data/comm cables, that the attack was a test run for a larger--perhaps coordinated--attack. maybe they'll put DHS on this?
Somewhat true but the Grid is pretty flexible and can work around breaks in the system. The thing to do is take a lot of these physical assets out while attacking the computer doing the work arounds. This allows a person to overload an area greater than was attacked physically. Once they do gain control of the computers again, there is a lot of extra damage done by the systems lame attempts to fix itself that instead helped the attack along that winds up making the fix harder to accomplish. You wind up with a big area blacked out plus a huge strain on the grid trying to power the rest of the country. A second coordinated attack at this time will demolish the grid and leave us completely helpless.
It's by design
