When should network load restoration take place during the initial stages of restoration?

Network load restoration during the initial stages of restoration should focus on stabilizing the generators that are online and managing voltage control. This approach is critical because during a blackout or significant outage, there is a need to bring the system back to a steady state gradually. By restoring load in a controlled manner, operators ensure that the generators do not become overloaded, which could lead to further instability or damage.

As voltage levels can fluctuate drastically during outages, maintaining adequate voltage through proper load restoration is essential to prevent additional outages. By focusing on stabilizing the operational generators and ensuring voltage control, system operators can create a more reliable foundation for gradually restoring additional loads as conditions allow.

The other options do not align with the priorities during the initial restoration phase. For instance, restoring load immediately after a blackout or without assessing the transmission lines could lead to system failures. Similarly, restoring load when all generators are offline would be impractical since there would be no adequate source of generation to support that load. Thus, emphasizing stabilization and voltage control is the most appropriate approach during the early stages of network load restoration.