Another Northern California Power Outage
Added 2019-10-26 02:14:14 +0000 UTCOh boy...
Earlier this month, a majority of the northern state of California (where I live) had it's power shut off. The reason provided by our Local power company (PG&E) was that they wanted to prevent fires that might be caused from high winds damaging their lines in our heavily forested region, and starting a wildfire. The outage lasted a single day, but the short notice and vague information sent many into panic. Lots of local businesses lost money due to being under prepared.
Well, it looks like PG&E is preparing to do another "Public Safety Power Shutoff" event. tomorrow (October 26th). More wind. Not here in Humboldt county, but our power lines are fed by lines in an effected region, so, lights out for us, too.
They estimate the "wind event" that is forcing them to shut off power will last 4 days. They cannot inspect the lines until the wind event passes, and that itself will take some time, in our heavily forested and mountainous region. After they finish inspecting the lines, they will be able to restore power.
This is really frustrating. I make my living from using electricity. It's 2019 in California, one of the "greatest" economies in the world, and we are getting our power shut off every couple of weeks, for days at a time... due to wind. This is ridiculous.
As it turns out, this is going to be a regular problem for the foreseeable future, because, for decades, the power company (PG&E) has delayed updating their vast network, and due to the difficult mountainous and heavily forested terrain we live in, here in Humboldt and the neighboring counties, it's going to take them an estimated 10 years to sort all of this out. That means that every time the wind blows somewhere in the huge state of California, a huge chunk of us will be without power, for days at a time. The CEO even confirmed this is the new reality for us.
You'd think they'd be able to just shut off isolated areas, but no. That's not how our power grid is set up, apparently. Even though the danger is happening in another county, my county is still effected by the shut off. Thousands and thousands of people.
Anyways, all of this is to say that I will be delayed in my work, yet again. I nearly have the second drawing for October done, but without power, I, a digital artist, will not be able to work.
Looks like I really need to invest in an inverter generator, soon. :(
~Ray
Comments
I'm totally cool with that! hope everyone else will understand that too.
2019-10-26 22:28:50 +0000 UTCThanks! Yeah, I'll be fine. Just gonna have to deal with it until I can afford an alternate solution. :) I appreciate the support, and the art will still come, just a bit later than expected.
RoninDude
2019-10-26 22:19:07 +0000 UTCah dang it dude, that suck. I mean I support you because you're an artist, not for the art so I dont really care to keep paying, but that still suck. hope you'll find a way to make it work (maybe a generator or something idk). wish you luck
2019-10-26 20:50:58 +0000 UTCUnfortunately, it's simply more complex than that. Jordan, you are right, California regulations have caused issues with PG&E's ability to charge prices that cover the costs to maintain thier lines in our rough forrested terrain. However, (based on my limited research) SDG&E, another california power company, has done what it takes to adjust to these regulations, in response to fires in 2007. When they shut off power, it's more contained. They are a smaller company, but the fact is PG&E has done nothing at all, in all this time. Simply blaming regulation is easy, but not realisitic. The reality is it's a clusterfuck on all ends. I agree that the regulations are a huge blockage. But the power company hasn't made any effort to adapt. My beef ain't with the linemen. Those people are the real heroes here, just responding to the dictation of rich dudes on both ends (government and corporate), and doing the best they can for all of our sakes. Take what I say with a grain of salt, of course. I am just an artist frustrated I can't draw my booby art and run my business. I'll get a generator and I'll be good. ;)
RoninDude
2019-10-26 17:54:43 +0000 UTC::Rolls eyes:: Suuuuure it
Shawn K. Younkin
2019-10-26 17:24:47 +0000 UTCThe corporation is overseen by your state regulatory commission. Allow me, an electrician and a lineman, to explain why the infrastructure isn't upgraded. It's because we are not allowed. The regulatory burden, especially from the enviro-nuts, means any project (forget doing new, not in a million years will you get regulatory permission in anything approaching a timely manner) is bound up in endless environmental studies of the dick-backed water fly or whatever. No, your problem is with the voters of California.
Jordan Breon
2019-10-26 13:56:53 +0000 UTC
