PSE&G and Other Utilities Get a Failing Grade for Power Outages Due to Latest Storm

I don't get it. are power lines in the east build differently than in colorado? we've had a similar snow storm here in colorado last week as well. it caused hardly any power outages. granted, we get the light fluffy kind of snow, not the heavy wet type, but still!

 

sounds like a "shovel ready" stimulus project waiting to be funded!
I think our infrastructure is something that people take for granted, because as far as they know and remember, it has always been there. they fail to see just how much it contributed to the economic boom and America's rise to power and prominence in the world, that they've enjoyed all their lives. as a result, they don't place the kind of importance on maintaining and improving it that it deserves. it doesn't produce immediate results/benefits, and therefore it goes neglected in our "I want it now" society, both by politicians, who are on a 2-4 year election cycle, and the general public, who are too ignorant to know any better.
ok, rant over. back on topic.

 

Quit whining. Buy a generator.

 

Back before my last ban after a particularly nasty winter across the US and during either Obama's ARRA projects or some of Bush's last term when we had people w/o power for weeks, when we were talking about projects that would have a real lasting effect, I proposed a continual program of burying the residential conductors that are the primary lines that are affect by ice and snow and falling trees. The transmission conductors are rarely affected by anything other than tornado, hurricane, earthquake since nothing falls on them.

But some supply sider/neo/theocon went on and on about the costs of doing it to the poor power companies, regardless of the costs of repairs that are borne more and more by FEMA/Feds with disaster declarations because the power companies can't afford to repair their own lines.

 

I think that the power companies cannot afford to repair their own lines.

 

For the summer rates they charge, I somehow doubt it.

 

I remember having a similar storm here but it was in May (when the trees were blooming) and without the winds. Still, the heavy wet snow damaged a lot of the trees in the neighborhood and you couldn't use the sidewalks without the risk of getting hit by branches as they broke.

I guess your town won't have a wood chip shortage anytime soon.

 

Chicken/Egg.

 

Utilities Get a Failing Grade for Power Outages

Perhaps they need to pass a law banning snow, while leaves are still on the trees.

 

I lost power for 11 days once in NC...I think that was 03 and Duke Power. It seems that it takes a storm and probably some insurance money for the companies to upgrade.