Lights Out Lakewood

[Meg Ostrowski]

Does anyone know why Lakewood went dark this evening? Everything from Bunts/Detroit to Clifton/Belle, and as far as I could see was without power around 9:00 p.m.

I have also noticed an increase in EMS sirens in recent days, particularly today from early morning to late night.

[Stan Austin]

I was out Trick or Treating early

[Jim O'Bryan]

Does anyone know why Lakewood went dark this evening? Everything from Bunts/Detroit to Clifton/Belle, and as far as I could see was without power around 9:00 p.m.

I have also noticed an increase in EMS sirens in recent days, particularly today from early morning to late night.

Transfer sub station near Merl and Bunts was acting up. 3,800 residents out of power for under an hour.

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[Michael Deneen]

First Energy has cut its maintenance staff over the years, resulting in declining service and longer power outages.
Meanwhile, they spent millions of dollars to get the Browns Stadium naming rights.
Behold, the magical wonders of "limited regulation".

As for Lakewood, our oligarch mayor has already proven that he serves corporate power, not citizens.
So don't expect our "leadership" to make an issue out of this.

[Bridget Conant]

Actually, a proactive mayor serving his constituents WOULD make this an issue.

Facts are that newer suburbs have better service due to new, mostly underground lines. Older suburb lines are above ground and subject to damage from storms, lightning, trees, squirrels chewing lines, cars hitting poles, and so on

CEI/First Energy has not updated and upgraded service in Cleveland or older suburbs. They should have a program in place to methodically and regularly upgrade and replace lines, placing many underground.They've never done that and our ineffectual "leaders" in Cuyahoga County have never pressed them to do so.

Why shouldn't we have the same service as newer suburban areas?

[Matthew Lee]

Actually, a proactive mayor serving his constituents WOULD make this an issue.

Facts are that newer suburbs have better service due to new, mostly underground lines. Older suburb lines are above ground and subject to damage from storms, lightning, trees, squirrels chewing lines, cars hitting poles, and so on

CEI/First Energy has not updated and upgraded service in Cleveland or older suburbs. They should have a program in place to methodically and regularly upgrade and replace lines, placing many underground.They've never done that and our ineffectual "leaders" in Cuyahoga County have never pressed them to do so.

Why shouldn't we have the same service as newer suburban areas?

Bridget, you are spot on. The problem is that our lines are all above ground. It is worth more to FirstEnergy to deal with the intermittent outages than to try to bury them all underground. This should be a priority but as not as it is an "acceptable loss" for the energy company and we don't fight it as a city. Definitely was a big deal when Hurricane Sandy came through 5 years ago and then went away.

[Jim O'Bryan]

If nothing else you would expect them and the city to be pushing for underground cables every time they tear up a street, or work on the power lines.

I remember as a kid in Washington DC thinking how clean the city looked, and it was simply all power and phones lines were underground.

Time to take care of this.

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[Bridget Conant]

But no politician will work for their constituents on this precisely for the same reason they all roll over for the Cleveland Clinic. They won't fight the big corporation.

So we get stuck with unsightly poles and lines that will continue to be a problem.