No easy fix in massive power outage

GOPUSA ^ | July 4, 2012 | Eric Tucker and Chris Kahn (Associated Press)

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

WASHINGTON (AP) - In the aftermath of storms that knocked out power to millions, sweltering residents and elected officials are demanding to know why it's taking so long to restring power lines and why they're not more resilient in the first place.

The answer, it turns out, is complicated: Above-ground lines are vulnerable to lashing winds and falling trees, but relocating them underground incurs huge costs - as much as $15 million per mile of buried line - and that gets passed onto consumers.

[ArrogantBustard]

I suggest that the sooner you get started on it, the sooner it will be done.

[listenhillary]

You are right.

Hopefully I will still have a choice in America’s future to keep my living space at 72 degrees year round.

[Truth29]

Feel free to send the $$ right over.

[Rumplemeyer]

How pray tell would putting in miles of conduit and manholes, cable, transformers and consumer connections, put people out of work?

[ArrogantBustard]

I have no idea of your particular financial situation ...

Portable gasoline generators in the 5kW to 7kW capacity range cost between $600 and $900 at Lowes. That enough to run your well pump OR your refrigerator, freezer, and some lights and fans.

I'm not sure what an electrician would charge today to install an auxiliary breaker panel with an isolation switch ... I recall it being a few hundred $$$ several years ago.

I know the 0bamanation economy sucks, and money is tight ... but I do seriously suggest, and not just to you personally, that the sooner one gets started (whether "started" means setting aside the money, or looking up "electricians" in the phone book) the sooner the job is done.

The demonicRats' and environmental fascists' war on coal is not going to increase the amount of electric power generated in MD, VA, WV, nor is it going to reduce the probability of load-induced service interruptions, nor is it going to improve the utilities' ability to maintain infrastructure.

[Rumplemeyer]

I know all about underground utilities, My family has been in the Heavy Construction business for 100 years, we have worked for Con-Ed, PSE&G & JCP&L. The maintenance of underground duct systems in much cheaper and cost effective than areal systems. The underground systems are not effected nearly as much as areal systems by weather.

As for cost, the PUC determines amortization of the cost over its life time, it is not billed as a surcharge. And give it a rest on the constant rant about union wages and feather bedding. You come out and do what we do and tell me my men are overpaid, they make a good living and work damn hard for it.

[ArrogantBustard]

Who’s gonna pay for it?

[Truth29]

Points well taken, but you are well behind the times for the cost to get the work legally done with permits, certifications, panel with isolation switch and necessary circuits for house central systems in the Obamaland regulatory regime.

[Lurker]

And the required wiring and transfer switch to hook up said generator to a well pump.

All of which took me about 90 minutes to do after watching the video provided by the transfer switch manufacturer. And I am most definetely NOT an electrician.

[Lurker]

but you are well behind the times for the cost to get the work legally done with permits, certifications, panel with isolation switch and necessary circuits for house central systems in the Obamaland regulatory regime.

Bullcrap. I actually got three quotes from Union electricians. The highest one was $350.00. But after watching the instructional video I decided to do it myself. No permit required according to my Village Hall.

So quit whining and get busy.

[Truth29]

"All of which took me about 90 minutes to do after watching the video provided by the transfer switch manufacturer. And I am most definetely NOT an electrician."

Must be nice to be in an unregulated area - or a criminal. Try that in an area with a leftist government and a public utility sensitive to back feeding into the grid.

[ArrogantBustard]

I actually got three quotes from Union electricians. The highest one was $350.00.

Hmmmm ...

Thank you.

[Gaffer]

My guess is the problem would be cleared sooner if the Urban Denizens of the DC area didn’t rip off the miles and miles of downed copper transmission lines before the power company responders could get to them.

[Lurker]

Try that in an area with a leftist government and a public utility sensitive to back feeding into the grid.

Suburbs of Chicago, smartass. And guess what a transfer switch does? That's right, it prevents backfeeding into the system. Now do your own damn research, get off your whiny ass, and get busy.

[Truth29]

You pay the necessary bribe you SOB? Don’t generalize to other areas. I have gotten estimates - more than $1000 plus the cost of the switch.

[ArrogantBustard]

I have gotten estimates - more than $1000 plus the cost of the switch.

Hmmm ...

Thank you.

Switch costs $290 at Lowes. So ... Worst case total cost around $2500 (I'm not sure what "more than $100" really means) for generator, switch box, and an electrician.

OK.

[UCANSEE2]

Well yea if you do it in one big project. Break it up into manageable pieces. Only do as much as you can afford in one year. If it takes 50 years to do it so be it but get started. It’s a worthwhile project.

Yeah... but if we give 500 billion to the GW Alarmists, they will fix this weather thing right away, and we won't have to worry about putting the wires underground.

[UCANSEE2]

Underground lines are $15 MILLION a mile??

Well... that's in the city. You get better mileage out on the highway.

[UCANSEE2]

I have been in many homes after a major storm with underground power lines.

Maybe we should put the power lines and the homes underground.

[Rumplemeyer]

The rate payers, they pay for all improvements the power companies make.

The Public Utilities Commission sets the rates charged to customers. This is based on the Company's cost to provide services plus a fair return for the stockholders.