Little Havana?

[Jim O'Bryan]

Last night the city half the city lost electricity. The Main Fire Station not only lost power but could not get their generator running!

Today I noticed another half of the city has lost power?

Anyone know why?


Jim

[Stan Austin]

Jim---- Can't talk to you right now---------I'm pedaling my generator as fast as I can
Stan

Nothing for sure but one on Monday was the result of a car collision and a wrecked transformer. And, I've heard heat/transformer/explantations.

Traffic had rigged up a generator to splice into the Madison/Warren traffic signal at 11:30 this morning.

I think several bad things went wrong at the same time frame to cause all this.

[Jim O'Bryan]

I had heard that as they tried to get other substations to pick up the load they all started popping.

This is usually followed by rolling brown outs as people forget to turn off big drain items like AC.

Thanks for the update.


Jim


PS any word on why our Fire Station couldn't get their generator working?

[Stan Austin]

Jim-- I was by the station at @ 4:45 AM and a crew had just returned from a call. The crew was cleaning up equipment and just trying to get along with the environment. There was no evidence of any lack of power.

I have been hearing signal outages and deployment of temporary generators to power traffic lights.

I think, that once againg this was the "perfect storm" of a bunch of LITTLE CRAP.

just drive careful today!

[Jim O'Bryan]

I think, that once againg this was the "perfect storm" of a bunch of LITTLE CRAP.

just drive careful today!

That came right off the scanner last night as they scrambled to figure out who would cover for who. About 11 pm

[Josh Rothhaas]

Hey, I am not sure where i am supposed to say this, but i got alot of realy cool night photos the when the power went out. i was hoping to submit a few for the observer. they are 6.1 megapixels taken on a d70. and so i was wondering how i would go about submitting them. My E-Mail is Spatulated@yahoo.com. i am also looking to try and take pictures for the observer for any occasion, i will definantly be at the art fair.

thanks and have a good day

[Grace O'Malley]

I've dealt with two long power outages this week plus many more failures that only lasted a few seconds but were long enough to send my carbon monoxide detectors, computer, and appliances in to "alarm" mode where they beep or squeal loudly.

I wish I could say that it is an uncommon event, but its not. Even in the winter we have frequent losses of power, although of short duration. Regardless, I have to reset clocks and surge protectors and listen to the noise associated with the loss of power.

Let's face it, we are getting very poor service from First Energy. When I had an unrelated electrical service problem, a loose meter, the serviceman complained of cutbacks in the service force and how he felt that they ignored a lot of potential problems. I don't doubt his story.

In spite of paying some of the highest electric rates in the US, we aren't getting much in return. Particularly, those of us in the inner ring suburbs have been totally neglected.

All of the new installations are underground. Underground wiring is less likely to cause problems during storms, etc, because its not exposed. Its the solution to a lot of problems associated with poles and wires.

So why isn't there a long range plan in place to replace our aged poles and wires with underground? Why do we get stuck with the old stuff, and all its attendant problems, while everyone else gets the latest thing?

First Energy should have a plan to periodically replace wiring in sections of the city until its all new. Before you scream "How can they/we afford that?" remember that they are making record profits. First Energy is NOT cash strapped.

They are getting away with providing a lower level of service to us than what we deserve.

How many of you have had to PAY to get a service upgrade? New homes are automatically wired with enough amperage to power AC units etc. In Lakewood, you often have to ask for a line upgrade to get increased power. We DO have a lot more electrical needs today as compared to 1930. However, First Energy tries to charge you when you ask them to provide you with what most other customers already have: sufficient power to run your household.

[Mark Crnolatas]

7:45 pm, and our power returned. Scary thing is I in the middle of typing my own comment about the power when it went down again at 5:18pm ...I think I'll wait to post my comment. *Looks around*

[Stan Austin]

This is starting to get old REAL FAST

[Stan Austin]

I've heard on the scanner (in the short time it's been on) 2 accidents, Lewis and Madison, and Bunts and Madison.

I think maybe a bill back to CEI from the City for the police overtime, generator use and any other little old charge that can be thought of might be in order.

[dl meckes]

No kidding, Stan.

We were not able to work yesterday (due to being power free). I couldn't stand the heat, so I asked DH to take me to the movies last night (Must Like Dogs - cute, lightweight summer movie). Some of the power was restored when we returned, but the flashing light in front of the main fire station was still out.

Power went off again today, after noon and just came on.

We've lost a lot of working hours, although we've tried to make the most of our time. We enjoyed the farmer's market Wednesday afternoon.

This afternoon we finished the new pathway/grading in the back yard and we built a proper wood storage rack (up to code & everything). We didn't know just how much wood we had been collecting and we still have to build another, smaller model.

I guess when the power goes out this winter, we can enjoy the fireplace. The bad news is that we're down to two dogs, so it can't get too cold. Maybe Jeff will let us borrow his Newfie (a featured dog in the above mentioned movie).

I am sick of this poor service and think that I'll have to write PUCO.

[Dan Slife]

DL, all

Just a side bar on PUCO.

This spring, as required course work at CSU I attended a seminar in Columbus at which we spent one morning at the PUCO.

The entire commision was present and gave our class a presentation followed by a Q & A. After listening to what the PUCO DOES DO, students had fun inquiring as to what they DO NOT DO.

Though I cannot disclose names or details, one hot subject was PUCO's long term strategic planning given dwindling resources and increased competition form developing nations? What was the long term plan for dealing with the depleation of resources? How will such a market approach deal with scarcity? Okay, it a rhetorical question.

After staring blankly, and in the usual smoke and mirror dance of political-economic interest, no adequate answer was given beyond PUCO making 5 to 10 year MARKET PROJECTIONS. The answer was then implicit. Because it is about profiteering in a market system, their is no long term planning in place to PROTECT THE PUBLIC GOOD.

In fact, with the exceptin of Muni Power in Cleveland, electircity is no longer a public good, but a profit engine. As Grace notes, amid record profits First Energy is not reinvesting in older areas. We are paying more and getting less.

That said, PUCO looks more like a PR firm than a functional link between the needs of constituents and the administrative execution of sound public policy for the benefit of said constituents.

In fact, PUCO's funding model would raise concern in the mind of any conscious citizen. PUCO recieves a flat percentage of TOTAL ENERGY REVENUES on a yearly basis. As a PR firm, they spin this as "not coming from tax payer dollars, we don't have a line item in the budget, the energy companies pay us". Not a sophisticated sheithing in any regard.
I am a taxpayer who cuts a check to First Energy.

Thus, there is no incentive for PUCO to push for policy that caps rising energy sell rates, or regulate the market in a redistributive manner. As an agency, thier buget gets fatter as our pockets bleed.

[Mark Crnolatas]

Again. Its 11:10pm, it just came back. What else is there to say.

[Stan Austin]

Dan--- Here's another aspect to PUCO and the frantic effort to "deregulate" about 20 years ago.

The effort to deregulate emerged during the Reagan years (duh). The intellectual godfather for a lot of it was Milton Friedman and the so called Chicago School of Economics.

The main thrust of the idea was that many functions that were done by government or regulated by government could be done more efficiently and at less cost if market forces were brought to bear.

That was the progentitor of charter schools, for instance. And of course all those are is a diversion of tax money into private, for profit schools. I needn't point out their less than stellar record.

As it applies to utilities the idea that deregulation or less regulation would give the consumer more choice and therefore cheaper electricity. This notion is based on competition. However, as usual, these conservative numbskulls got it wrong. They forgot about the price of entry into a market. Competition is fine in energy production but when the price of entry ($1billion for a new power plant) is too steep then there is no market at work.

So all that the suits did was reshuffle some ownership papers, raise prices (because they could) to pay for inefficient production, and cut back on maintenance (continent wide blackouts due to lack of tree trimming).

And, as you so correctly point out, a dollar out of your pocket to pay for electricity and the one penny that goes to PUCO is every bit as much a tax except in different clothes.

Now, the prognosis for change???? The legislature which controls these matters is comprised of even dumber members than the body which let it happen.

At the moment any solutions available to the individual such as solar generated power are too cost prohibitive for initial start up.

I'm in favor of the personal touch. If you know someone who works for First Energy tell them face to face that you don't like the job they're doing.

Maybe when all else fails, a simple desire for pride and respect will fill the gap that our government has left.

Stan Austin

[Joe McClain]

Little Havana?

Pues--Mi mojito en la Bodeguita y mi daiquiri en El Floridita!