To Prevent Wildfires, PG&E Preemptively Cuts Power To Thousa

[pixy0stix]

To Prevent Wildfires, PG&E Preemptively Cuts Power To Thousands In California

www.npr.org/2018/10/15/657468903/to-prevent-wildfires-pg-e-preemptively-cuts-power-to-thousands-in-california


To try to stave off the type of wildfires that have scorched California, Pacific Gas and Electric Company says it is preemptively turning off power for about 87,000 customers in 12 counties.

These areas are forecast to have weather conditions conducive to fires, including low humidity and gusty winds of up to 60 mph.

[isabel]

Wow. So this is our solution to climate change? When will republicans pull their heads out of their asses? (Please don’t answer that.)

[bcv513]

Ummm...what do people do when they have no power? They light candles. You know, with flames.

[AAM2012]

I believe they are making this change because they failed to do it before and it turned a recent fire into a catastrophic and deadly one. It helped spread a small fire into a massive fire because the wind brought down several poles in which the power remained on.

I can’t remember we the name of the fire though, but I believe they were brought into several lawsuits because of it.

But yes this isn’t the answer to global warming but it helps saves lives and homes. Also fire season in CA is no longer a season...if that doesn’t motivate for change I have no idea what will.

[heyjude]

There have been happy go lucky ads on the radio for months now that they would be doing this when needed.

[suburbanzookeeper]

Oct 15, 2018 12:14:24 GMT -5 AAM2012 said:

I believe they are making this change because they failed to do it before and it turned a recent fire into a catastrophic and deadly one. It helped spread a small fire into a massive fire because the wind brought down several poles in which the power remained on.

I can’t remember we the name of the fire though, but I believe they were brought into several lawsuits because of it.

But yes this isn’t the answer to global warming but it helps saves lives and homes. Also fire season in CA is no longer a season...if that doesn’t motivate for change I have no idea what will.

www.npr.org/2018/06/08/618444388/pg-e-power-lines-blamed-for-northern-california-wildfires The Redwood Fire & The Atlas Fire. There was one in San Diego a decade or so ago also caused or accelerated by downed lines. 

I sat through a symposium meeting this summer for our local (SCE) power system, explaining that there are no longer fire seasons and this is considered our "new normal." 

[imojoebunny]

Oct 15, 2018 12:11:48 GMT -5 bcv513 said:

Ummm...what do people do when they have no power? They light candles. You know, with flames.

Worse, they run gas generators.  

[mrs.jacinthe]

This affected a lot of people in my area and you should see the entitled complaining on Facebook. Apparently we should not do anything to prevent fires because it is inconvenient.

[Mushe]

Oct 15, 2018 14:05:37 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

This affected a lot of people in my area and you should see the entitled complaining on Facebook. Apparently we should not do anything to prevent fires because it is inconvenient.

I even saw these posts when PG&E cut power DURING the fires a few months ago. Lots of posts about groceries going bad. 😒

[isabel]

Oct 15, 2018 14:31:07 GMT -5 Mushe said:

Oct 15, 2018 14:05:37 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

This affected a lot of people in my area and you should see the entitled complaining on Facebook. Apparently we should not do anything to prevent fires because it is inconvenient.

I even saw these posts when PG&E cut power DURING the fires a few months ago. Lots of posts about groceries going bad. 😒

Like, I get this is inconvenient, but there's plenty of advance warning in this case. Go grab a cooler and some ice so that you can store your refrigerated items. Leave your freezer closed. It's unlikely anything will go bad over a 24-36 hour period. Stock up on flashlights and plan some fun activities or, hell, go to bed early for a change. I wouldn't like being without power either, but what the hell else are they going to do!? This is what happens when you ignore climate change and let a bad problem get infinitely worse.

This should scare the shit out of all of us. Is this what our future looks like because we refuse to moderate our impact on the earth?

[mrs.jacinthe]

Oct 15, 2018 15:44:34 GMT -5 isabel said:

Oct 15, 2018 14:31:07 GMT -5 Mushe said:

I even saw these posts when PG&E cut power DURING the fires a few months ago. Lots of posts about groceries going bad. 😒

Like, I get this is inconvenient, but there's plenty of advance warning in this case. Go grab a cooler and some ice so that you can store your refrigerated items. Leave your freezer closed. It's unlikely anything will go bad over a 24-36 hour period. Stock up on flashlights and plan some fun activities or, hell, go to bed early for a change. I wouldn't like being without power either, but what the hell else are they going to do!? This is what happens when you ignore climate change and let a bad problem get infinitely worse.

This should scare the shit out of all of us. Is this what our future looks like because we refuse to moderate our impact on the earth?

Yes. These same people who are whining about losing power are the ones who wouldn't conserve water in the drought, drive monstrously large trucks (and roll coal), and are vociferous climate change deniers.

[goldengirlz]

Are they actually fixing the power lines and moving them underground? Wouldn’t that be a better long-term solution?

[suburbanzookeeper]

Oct 15, 2018 16:56:06 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

Are they actually fixing the power lines and moving them underground? Wouldn’t that be a better long-term solution?

lolololol God no, they wouldn't do something logical like that. 

At the above-referenced symposium I asked nearly that exact same question, especially on projects moving forward in high risk fire zones (like one I've been working on getting turned down for the last few years). They claim it's cost prohibitive to do that. 

[AAM2012]

Oct 15, 2018 16:56:06 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

Are they actually fixing the power lines and moving them underground? Wouldn’t that be a better long-term solution?

You think those consumers who do not want their power off for 24 hours would be willing to pay for that?

Lolz!

[goldengirlz]

Oct 15, 2018 17:05:34 GMT -5 suburbanzookeeper said:

Oct 15, 2018 16:56:06 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

Are they actually fixing the power lines and moving them underground? Wouldn’t that be a better long-term solution?

lolololol God no, they wouldn't do something logical like that. 

At the above-referenced symposium I asked nearly that exact same question, especially on projects moving forward in high risk fire zones (like one I've been working on getting turned down for the last few years). They claim it's cost prohibitive to do that. 

Except it’s penny-wise, pound foolish. How much do the wildfires cost the state each year? Not just in lost economic activity (and human life!) but the actual cost of rebuilding infrastructure and paying firefighters?

ETA: I know you agree. It’s just frustrating that that’s what you were told.

[meshaliuknits]

Oct 15, 2018 16:56:06 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

Are they actually fixing the power lines and moving them underground? Wouldn’t that be a better long-term solution?

I thought underground power lines weren't advisable in earthquake prone areas?

[suburbanzookeeper]

Oct 15, 2018 17:31:33 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

Oct 15, 2018 16:56:06 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

Are they actually fixing the power lines and moving them underground? Wouldn’t that be a better long-term solution?

I thought underground power lines weren't advisable in earthquake prone areas?

For us there's a number of issues. We're in an earthquake prone area and their new proposed substation and 115kV lines would all be above-ground. We only have one two ways out of our valley, both of which would have those lines above them. In the event of a solid earthquake, it would be expected that those lines would come down, trapping us in. Fun, right?

It really boils down to $$$$. One new community that was built along that route put in the underground vaults themselves (as in paid for) so that the lines wouldn't be strung in front of their new luxury homes. The cost is insane when it's done by the electric companies.  

[mrs.jacinthe]

Oct 15, 2018 16:56:06 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

Are they actually fixing the power lines and moving them underground? Wouldn’t that be a better long-term solution?

The geological makeup of, at least, my area makes burying lines highly impractical. They'd be blasting through solid rock.

[pinkdutchtulips]

Oct 15, 2018 14:28:46 GMT -5 @heyitsme said:

We got notices for this yesterday but no loss of power (East Bay/Contra Costa County). I'm all for it as a preventative measure.

same got the notice but no shut off ... co co County too

[heyjude]

Oct 15, 2018 16:56:06 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

Are they actually fixing the power lines and moving them underground? Wouldn’t that be a better long-term solution?

The terrain is crazy up in the fire prone land. Some of it is federal or state land. Some of it is private. I’m sure there are endangered species issues and definitely enviro regs to get in the way. It is most definitely a case of easier said than done.

[meshaliuknits]

Oct 15, 2018 20:29:49 GMT -5 pinkdutchtulips said:

Oct 15, 2018 14:28:46 GMT -5 @heyitsme said:

We got notices for this yesterday but no loss of power (East Bay/Contra Costa County). I'm all for it as a preventative measure.

same got the notice but no shut off ... co co County too

Interesting. I'm CoCo too and I got no notice. PGE's twitter only indicated Napa, Lake, El Dorado, Amador and Calvaras counties.

[pinkdutchtulips]

Oct 16, 2018 13:30:10 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

Oct 15, 2018 20:29:49 GMT -5 pinkdutchtulips said:

same got the notice but no shut off ... co co County too

Interesting. I'm CoCo too and I got no notice. PGE's twitter only indicated Napa, Lake, El Dorado, Amador and Calvaras counties.

my notice was that they were cutting power preemptively to fire prone areas ... not that briones/Mtz isn't fire prone .. it is :/