Yep and here the downed lines start fires so putting them underground is sensible.
Power outages
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cielski
Senior Gretsch-Talker
Now playing, Little Feat's "Apolitical Blues".
Bertotti
Gretschified
Funny because at my house and mile of road it is all buried but get a couple miles away and it is still in poles and the big outage we had was ice related it built up so much on the lines they stretched to the ground shorted out broke and the poles on either side would snap, for miles, our power company which is not huge had thousands of broken power poles. Crazy isn’t it! Some day I’ll have some solar here as well.
We have had a number of blackouts during the massive rain storms this winter…Still raining today. Our longest was three days without power. We have a gas stove for cooking and the little Honda generator and it kept all our food safe in our two refrigerators and one chest freezer…Big house big family.
My youngest daughters house lost power for 4 days a week ago. They lost all their refrigerated food. $$$$$$$
I still have my battery amps and some very sweet acoustic guitars…I’m good.
Not far from us a whole community lost their homes due to a levee break. I count my blessings.
My youngest daughters house lost power for 4 days a week ago. They lost all their refrigerated food. $$$$$$$
I still have my battery amps and some very sweet acoustic guitars…I’m good.
Not far from us a whole community lost their homes due to a levee break. I count my blessings.
Most of the US is less densely populated than Europe. Most of the US, especially in California, have overhead power. I could be wrong but I think Europe has more of its power lines underground, which is more affordable to do in denser areas.
The only significant blackouts I've experienced are one for about 2-3 days and that was during our worst fire season in part due to high winds (both the fires and our power outage), and the delay I am guessing was due to many electic crews attending to more urgent fire emergencies.
The other one was last week for 6 hours, again due to weather.
I've never experienced rolling blackouts or brown outs, but probably because I lived in a "big" city around 2000 when they occurred - that was a self inflicted wound due to bad electricity policy that affected generation.
I think most blackouts these days are due to physical damage to distribution due to weather.
Us power is much, much cheaper than in Europe, even in California. If we paid similar rates, maybe we could accelerate undergrounding the system and creating back up generation.
The only significant blackouts I've experienced are one for about 2-3 days and that was during our worst fire season in part due to high winds (both the fires and our power outage), and the delay I am guessing was due to many electic crews attending to more urgent fire emergencies.
The other one was last week for 6 hours, again due to weather.
I've never experienced rolling blackouts or brown outs, but probably because I lived in a "big" city around 2000 when they occurred - that was a self inflicted wound due to bad electricity policy that affected generation.
I think most blackouts these days are due to physical damage to distribution due to weather.
Us power is much, much cheaper than in Europe, even in California. If we paid similar rates, maybe we could accelerate undergrounding the system and creating back up generation.
charlie chitlins
Synchromatic
Many European countries have buried their power lines.
Very few outages.
I can think of several reasons we have not, ALL involving money.
Very few outages.
I can think of several reasons we have not, ALL involving money.
adeniyiabidemi
Newbie
Power outages are the worst, especially when they happen right when you're trying to do something important. It's hard to believe that in some countries, they're almost unheard of! But here in the US, it looks like it's just something we have to deal with. At least there are ways to make the best of it.
I recommend you to look at this site. They have some great solar lighting ideas that could be really helpful if the power goes out. Plus, having a few solar-powered lights around the house can be a great way to spice up your outdoor aesthetic. Anyway, I totally feel you. Power outages can be super annoying, but at least we can make the best of it.
I recommend you to look at this site. They have some great solar lighting ideas that could be really helpful if the power goes out. Plus, having a few solar-powered lights around the house can be a great way to spice up your outdoor aesthetic. Anyway, I totally feel you. Power outages can be super annoying, but at least we can make the best of it.
It's a California thing, yes? On the east coast, this is rare but I think you guys have a unique convergence of population growth, aging infrastructure and environmental issues. I feel for ya bro.
MGllm
Synchromatic
Power outages happened to us several time a year in North Virginia. The usual cause was from trees falling over power lines due to snow or winds.
Posted that out of frustration. As that day it was another 'equipment failure'. Aging infrastructure as you correctly point out is the annoying part. As the power company is doing a poor job keeping their equipment in check. Corporate greed imo.
cielski
Senior Gretsch-Talker
Texas, too.
guitarfarm
Country Gent
I have a 20 kW Generac that powers everything but my #1 barn. A 500 gallon propane tank buried in the yard is enough to keep me running two weeks.
It's just freakin hot in Texas. First summer I lived in Dallas, it was above 105 degrees for over two weeks straight. It cooks the road material and creates troughs as cars drive over them. I've been in some heat in Arizona too - frightening heat.
Don't get me started on the condition of our highways
.They are like 'oh well, if it rains we get pot holes. Nothing we can do about it. We'll try to fix at some point'..
Guess what? My sister lives in Vancouver BC. It pretty much rains all the time. And no pot holes. Somehow we can't manage it. Obviously poor materials (= cheap) used here.
cielski
Senior Gretsch-Talker
I went thru USAF Basic Training in San Antonio in the summer of '69.
WWII barracks, no AC. Ah, the memories.
First time I ever passed out from the heat.
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That is scary. Usually you pass out from lack of Kielbasa.
Bertotti
Gretschified
Been to all of those but El Paso seemed even worse to me. The hottest I ever experienced was walking across the hospital parking lot pulling a 150lbs of medical parts and tools in hmm either Indio or Blythe, it was well over 120F. I was mobbed by Mets when I walked into the hospital lol towels bottles of water. I’m like get off! They said I was the first person to make it all the way across the parking lot that day without collapsing. I finished went home and ran three miles. Bottles of water make all the difference in the world. And it was a dry heat. And yea that makes a difference.
