Ongoing PG&E power outages

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  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,663
    Lerxst1992 said:
    Hope it’s getting safer out west Bri. 

    Thanks, L.  I will be SO glad when the first rain comes!

    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,663
    Just got word that PG&E is going to shut off our power this afternoon for a couple days (thus shutting down my business again and leaving us in the dark) due to a little wind coming out this way.  Of course, had they maintained their equipment properly all along instead of lining pockets, none of this would be a problem.
    Pardon me while I rant for a moment...

    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,663
    Here we go again.
    If you ever had any notion about moving here to "groovy" (it's not, it's lame), California, be sure you're OK with having your power shut off at least a few- if not several- times each years for at least a couple of days. We're being told our power will go off this afternoon and will not be back up until late Tuesday. I have to shut down by book business ever time this happens and my wife's store in town either closes or operates by flashlights and lanterns (not a great way to browse books). No power is better than more wildfires, but if PG&E had kept their equipment maintained and lines cleared (they didn't and that is why the town of Paradise burned to the ground), we wouldn't be doing this so often. It gets old!
    https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/10/23/map-where-the-pge-outages-will-be/

    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Meltdown99
    Meltdown99 None Of Your Business... Posts: 10,739

    Make everyday life easy with a Honda generator, trusted since 1965


    https://powerequipment.honda.ca/generators
    Give Peas A Chance…
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,663
    Meltdown99 said:

    Make everyday life easy with a Honda generator, trusted since 1965


    https://powerequipment.honda.ca/generators

    We have a small Honda generator that keeps the fridge going and one light.  But we are on a well, so no water.  And no heat (it won't get hot enough for A/C, so that's good).  I have to shut down my book business for another 2 1/2 days.  No TV/ movies.

    And (almost) worst of all, no playing records!  :anguished:

    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    brianlux said:
    Here we go again.
    If you ever had any notion about moving here to "groovy" (it's not, it's lame), California, be sure you're OK with having your power shut off at least a few- if not several- times each years for at least a couple of days. We're being told our power will go off this afternoon and will not be back up until late Tuesday. I have to shut down by book business ever time this happens and my wife's store in town either closes or operates by flashlights and lanterns (not a great way to browse books). No power is better than more wildfires, but if PG&E had kept their equipment maintained and lines cleared (they didn't and that is why the town of Paradise burned to the ground), we wouldn't be doing this so often. It gets old!
    https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/10/23/map-where-the-pge-outages-will-be/

    You would think the council member(s) involves in this could do something. Maybe none are up for re-election?

    it happens somewhat fairly regularly in a nearby location. Notice given or not, it’s ridiculous. 
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,663
    hedonist said:
    brianlux said:
    Here we go again.
    If you ever had any notion about moving here to "groovy" (it's not, it's lame), California, be sure you're OK with having your power shut off at least a few- if not several- times each years for at least a couple of days. We're being told our power will go off this afternoon and will not be back up until late Tuesday. I have to shut down by book business ever time this happens and my wife's store in town either closes or operates by flashlights and lanterns (not a great way to browse books). No power is better than more wildfires, but if PG&E had kept their equipment maintained and lines cleared (they didn't and that is why the town of Paradise burned to the ground), we wouldn't be doing this so often. It gets old!
    https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/10/23/map-where-the-pge-outages-will-be/

    You would think the council member(s) involves in this could do something. Maybe none are up for re-election?

    it happens somewhat fairly regularly in a nearby location. Notice given or not, it’s ridiculous. 

    Gosh, I really don't know how government and PG&E intertwine.  Good question.

    I will say, at least PG&E gives us some advance notice with these planned outages.  We also get unplanned outages here once in a while, but most are planned when any wind is predicted over the summits where the main power lines run.  I'm told that if we had a local power company, outages would occur much less frequently.  But I'm not holding my breath for that to happen any time.

    Time to go shut down my business.

    Have a good beginning of the week, Jammers!
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,663
    We caught a break!  23 hours later, power restored!  Hallefuckinlujah! :smiley:
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Meltdown99
    Meltdown99 None Of Your Business... Posts: 10,739
    brianlux said:
    We caught a break!  23 hours later, power restored!  Hallefuckinlujah! :smiley:
    Do not take offense.  But California is starting to resemble a banana republic...those places you expect hydro disruptions.  But California???  Not a good look.
    Give Peas A Chance…
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,663
    Meltdown99 said:
    brianlux said:
    We caught a break!  23 hours later, power restored!  Hallefuckinlujah! :smiley:
    Do not take offense.  But California is starting to resemble a banana republic...those places you expect hydro disruptions.  But California???  Not a good look.

    No offense taken.  There are a lot of great things to be said for California- beautiful coast line, great mountains, superb deserts.  But this state has been harmed by being over-populated (relative to the amount of rainfall), abused by encroachment on natural habitat, draining of aquifers, turning absolutely gorgeous places like Yosemite into crowded theme parks, and saturating with agricultural related chemicals, and mismanaged through greedy power companies putting profits before customer service.  Not to mention pollution from outside sources such as oil spills that have darkened the beach sands and global warming which has increased the devastating wildfires we have seen in recent years.

    Before the Gold Rush of 1849, California was a nearly pristine Garden of Eden.  A mere 170 years later it is (in many ways at least) a disaster. 
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Lerxst1992
    Lerxst1992 Posts: 7,889
    brianlux said:
    Meltdown99 said:
    brianlux said:
    We caught a break!  23 hours later, power restored!  Hallefuckinlujah! :smiley:
    Do not take offense.  But California is starting to resemble a banana republic...those places you expect hydro disruptions.  But California???  Not a good look.

    No offense taken.  There are a lot of great things to be said for California- beautiful coast line, great mountains, superb deserts.  But this state has been harmed by being over-populated (relative to the amount of rainfall), abused by encroachment on natural habitat, draining of aquifers, turning absolutely gorgeous places like Yosemite into crowded theme parks, and saturating with agricultural related chemicals, and mismanaged through greedy power companies putting profits before customer service.  Not to mention pollution from outside sources such as oil spills that have darkened the beach sands and global warming which has increased the devastating wildfires we have seen in recent years.

    Before the Gold Rush of 1849, California was a nearly pristine Garden of Eden.  A mere 170 years later it is (in many ways at least) a disaster. 

    Didn’t California get more rain before 1849? Overdevelopment and lack of rain seems to be the biggest culprits.

    Heard the Yorba Linda fire quadrupled in size in one day. Yikes. 


  • Meltdown99
    Meltdown99 None Of Your Business... Posts: 10,739
    why has California not regulated the industry better...for example, hire inspectors to inspect high-risk burn area to minimize the risk of fire.  It seems to me the politicians need to step up as well.  But it comes down to money...and how much does that power company spend lobbying?  

    Brian and Hedo...all I can do are send positive thoughts.


    Give Peas A Chance…
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,663
    Lerxst1992 said:
    brianlux said:
    Meltdown99 said:
    brianlux said:
    We caught a break!  23 hours later, power restored!  Hallefuckinlujah! :smiley:
    Do not take offense.  But California is starting to resemble a banana republic...those places you expect hydro disruptions.  But California???  Not a good look.

    No offense taken.  There are a lot of great things to be said for California- beautiful coast line, great mountains, superb deserts.  But this state has been harmed by being over-populated (relative to the amount of rainfall), abused by encroachment on natural habitat, draining of aquifers, turning absolutely gorgeous places like Yosemite into crowded theme parks, and saturating with agricultural related chemicals, and mismanaged through greedy power companies putting profits before customer service.  Not to mention pollution from outside sources such as oil spills that have darkened the beach sands and global warming which has increased the devastating wildfires we have seen in recent years.

    Before the Gold Rush of 1849, California was a nearly pristine Garden of Eden.  A mere 170 years later it is (in many ways at least) a disaster. 

    Didn’t California get more rain before 1849? Overdevelopment and lack of rain seems to be the biggest culprits.

    Heard the Yorba Linda fire quadrupled in size in one day. Yikes. 



    More rain before 1849?  Very possibly.  But also periods of extended drought.  And a lot depends on where in California.  Death Valley and the Mojave desert have long been arid, and the northwest counties have long been rain forests.   Because the state is prone to extended droughts, the over-development is hugely unwise.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,663
    Meltdown99 said:
    why has California not regulated the industry better...for example, hire inspectors to inspect high-risk burn area to minimize the risk of fire.  It seems to me the politicians need to step up as well.  But it comes down to money...and how much does that power company spend lobbying?  

    Brian and Hedo...all I can do are send positive thoughts.



    Yep, money money money!

    And hey, thanks for the good thoughts!  :smile: 
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    edited October 2020
    I believe that many are paid off in various ways - from the utility companies to the politicians to anyone who has something to gain by looking the other way. 

    Happens in every state.
  • Lerxst1992
    Lerxst1992 Posts: 7,889
    brianlux said:
    Meltdown99 said:
    why has California not regulated the industry better...for example, hire inspectors to inspect high-risk burn area to minimize the risk of fire.  It seems to me the politicians need to step up as well.  But it comes down to money...and how much does that power company spend lobbying?  

    Brian and Hedo...all I can do are send positive thoughts.



    Yep, money money money!

    And hey, thanks for the good thoughts!  :smile: 

    I read 70% of the undeveloped land at risk of fire is federally owned.

    So when trump blames California for not raking, it’s mostly land he is responsible for.  
  • Lerxst1992
    Lerxst1992 Posts: 7,889
    Meltdown99 said:
    why has California not regulated the industry better...for example, hire inspectors to inspect high-risk burn area to minimize the risk of fire.  It seems to me the politicians need to step up as well.  But it comes down to money...and how much does that power company spend lobbying?  

    Brian and Hedo...all I can do are send positive thoughts.



    Who owns PG&E? Mutual and hedge funds. Start laying an undue burden on the utility and where are these owners going? They are selling? No way they are staying. Then the ratepayers are stuck figuring out how to rebuild the utility infrastructure or convince someone new to take over. Good luck with that one.

    Utilities are not like normal capitalistic companies. All of their revenue and expense needs to be approved by....the state. That would explain the lobbying.

    And it gets worse. Utilities have to front the costs for severe events. Extremely expensive. And let’s say the weather forecasters are wrong and the storm or fires dont hit. Who pays? Yep, the utility. Paying literally for nothing. The system is designed to address the risk after the fact.
  • Meltdown99
    Meltdown99 None Of Your Business... Posts: 10,739
    Lerxst1992 said:
    Meltdown99 said:
    why has California not regulated the industry better...for example, hire inspectors to inspect high-risk burn area to minimize the risk of fire.  It seems to me the politicians need to step up as well.  But it comes down to money...and how much does that power company spend lobbying?  

    Brian and Hedo...all I can do are send positive thoughts.



    Who owns PG&E? Mutual and hedge funds. Start laying an undue burden on the utility and where are these owners going? They are selling? No way they are staying. Then the ratepayers are stuck figuring out how to rebuild the utility infrastructure or convince someone new to take over. Good luck with that one.

    Utilities are not like normal capitalistic companies. All of their revenue and expense needs to be approved by....the state. That would explain the lobbying.

    And it gets worse. Utilities have to front the costs for severe events. Extremely expensive. And let’s say the weather forecasters are wrong and the storm or fires dont hit. Who pays? Yep, the utility. Paying literally for nothing. The system is designed to address the risk after the fact.
    LMFAO...

    That's ridiculous.  You said they would sell?  And then you say they'd walk away?  They'd find willing buyers... And no way are they walking away from billions of dollars in assets because the government decides that maybe they should be better regulated.

    Only banana republics let industry regulate themselves...and they let them regulate themselves because the politician pockets are being lined.  Sounds like the US has a lot of banana republic traits...
    Give Peas A Chance…
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,663
    Lerxst1992 said:
    brianlux said:
    Meltdown99 said:
    why has California not regulated the industry better...for example, hire inspectors to inspect high-risk burn area to minimize the risk of fire.  It seems to me the politicians need to step up as well.  But it comes down to money...and how much does that power company spend lobbying?  

    Brian and Hedo...all I can do are send positive thoughts.



    Yep, money money money!

    And hey, thanks for the good thoughts!  :smile: 

    I read 70% of the undeveloped land at risk of fire is federally owned.

    So when trump blames California for not raking, it’s mostly land he is responsible for.  

    Exactly! 
    If I recall correctly, Governor Newsom pointed that out when he met with Trump who promptly ignored him.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Lerxst1992
    Lerxst1992 Posts: 7,889
    Meltdown99 said:
    Lerxst1992 said:
    Meltdown99 said:
    why has California not regulated the industry better...for example, hire inspectors to inspect high-risk burn area to minimize the risk of fire.  It seems to me the politicians need to step up as well.  But it comes down to money...and how much does that power company spend lobbying?  

    Brian and Hedo...all I can do are send positive thoughts.



    Who owns PG&E? Mutual and hedge funds. Start laying an undue burden on the utility and where are these owners going? They are selling? No way they are staying. Then the ratepayers are stuck figuring out how to rebuild the utility infrastructure or convince someone new to take over. Good luck with that one.

    Utilities are not like normal capitalistic companies. All of their revenue and expense needs to be approved by....the state. That would explain the lobbying.

    And it gets worse. Utilities have to front the costs for severe events. Extremely expensive. And let’s say the weather forecasters are wrong and the storm or fires dont hit. Who pays? Yep, the utility. Paying literally for nothing. The system is designed to address the risk after the fact.
    LMFAO...

    That's ridiculous.  You said they would sell?  And then you say they'd walk away?  They'd find willing buyers... And no way are they walking away from billions of dollars in assets because the government decides that maybe they should be better regulated.

    Only banana republics let industry regulate themselves...and they let them regulate themselves because the politician pockets are being lined.  Sounds like the US has a lot of banana republic traits...

     Yes I am referring to selling their stock. They are hedge and mutual funds and if it’s their burden to pay for climate change without ratepayer support they are selling.  someone then has to buy the stock and additionally invest to rebuild the infrastructure in a state that will require you to pay for the damage caused by extreme climate change. If that’s you, pony up a hundred billion or so to get started instead of hurling insults.

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