Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

To: WildHighlander57; Bob Ireland

Yes, and after talking with my neighbors, I called city hall, who confirmed that the off-and-on bumps are town-wide. That’s what got me to temporarily thinking crazy stuff like the power company wanting to show that they could turn off the electricity whenever they felt like it. Yes, I know it sounds nuts.

The only other reasonable explanations I can think of are (1) Something wonky with the upgrade itself, like defective equipment; or (2) The road-widening project underway on Route 66 somehow affecting the lines, poles, and/or transformers. (Shrugs) I have absolutely no clue.


987 posted on 07/12/2022 6:10:03 AM PDT by AFB-XYZ (Stand up, or bend over)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 974 | View Replies ]


To: AFB-XYZ
Yes, and after talking with my neighbors, I called city hall, who confirmed that the off-and-on bumps are town-wide. That’s what got me to temporarily thinking crazy stuff like the power company wanting to show that they could turn off the electricity whenever they felt like it. Yes, I know it sounds nuts.

I did some minimal research on the OG&E site last night while at work (hey, I'm in the power industry, just not THAT company). Couldn't pull a lot of information out of their web site, though they do show maps where "upgrades" are taking place, as well as tree trimming. Typically, mishaps, whether man-made or natural, tend to blink entire circuits, and not just part of your service.

In most areas, the 120/240 service is drawn from a single phase, one hot primary wire and a ground, so losing part of your service seems pretty improbable at that level. That is, out on the lines up to and including the pole-top (or underground) transformer, there isn't typically a means of cutting off part of a customer's service, at least not deliberately, and certainly not across a wide area like that.

I mentioned smart meters - even the meter, in itself, typically isn't able to do this, but it might - there is some logic in the meter that could automate meter reading, and might have some controllable functions like cutting off one leg of the 120-240 service, which would essentially cut off roughly half of your home's circuits and would probably shut down any 240 volt appliances (like the AC). This is NOT a good approach for load control, if that's what they're doing.

Either all off, or selecting appliances, which I doubt you've given them the control to do, is the best approach. I wonder if they have a new system that isn't working correctly, that is tied into their new "smart grid" technology and possibly new smart meters. And honestly, I don't know 100% if a smart meter by itself, is capable of cutting off any power. Mine isn't, but it does provide automatic meter reading, and it sends data to the power provider when the lights blink - this IS part of our "smart grid", whereby the power outage footprint is determined quickly and automatically for the automatic system and for the customer service/dispatching folks at the main control center.

The smart grid does allow for systematically cutting power to blocks of customers using pole-top circuit breakers (often called "reclosers") and, of course, the old tried-and-true method of just opening the circuit breakers at the substation either by remote or by operator intervention. That would be part of a rolling blackout, and if they were doing this deliberately, there would be some notification or news releases stating as such.

I would get hold of OG&E and let them now what's happening, and that you're not the only customer that's dealing with the issue. It shouldn't be happening IMHO.

1,090 posted on 07/12/2022 10:12:33 AM PDT by meyer (Everything woke turns to poo.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 987 | View Replies ]

To: AFB-XYZ; WildHighlander57
***after talking with my neighbors, I called city hall, who confirmed that the off-and-on bumps are town-wide***

You said that you had individual circuits in your home that would shut off; I addressed myself to that phenomenon.

1,147 posted on 07/12/2022 12:49:01 PM PDT by Bob Ireland (The Democrap Party is the enemy of freedom.They use all the seductions and deceits of the Bolshevics)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 987 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson