The power goes out in Connecticut if there's a slight gust of wind.

Current prices from Homedepot.com:

Portable generator: $199
Space heater: $20

Plan the fark ahead people. It's not like you didn't know this was coming, and didn't know lack of power was a significant possibility.

Just wait til the whole system collapses. You think this is bad?

spman: Mine was restored on Tuesday thank god, but I know some people at work that have been out for over a week now. The combination of incompetant Democrats in our state government and a monopolized utility industry that doesn't care, I wouldn't be surprised if some people are still without power for another week.

I went without power for nearly one month after the ice storm in Kentucky a few years ago...by the first week, I had acquired a generator, a kerosene heater, a space heater and a turkey fryer that I used the base to cook on. Yes, it sucked balls but it can be done. They need to get bootstrappy and assume it will be out forever and come up with a plan...

I wonder if they've ever heard of putting power lines underground. That's what they do in civilized countries.

CL&P is one of the most incompetent utility providers in existence. They self-imposed a deadline of today for getting everyone back...and are going to blow it badly.

Their hella-good profits report released last week is another eyebrow-raiser. I expect dog-and-pony legislative hearings in CT over this. But that's been done before to no effect with these particular buffoons.

spman: Mine was restored on Tuesday thank god, but I know some people at work that have been out for over a week now. The combination of incompetant Democrats in our state government and a monopolized utility industry that doesn't care, I wouldn't be surprised if some people are still without power for another week.

i am sure both sides are guilty but when your party cares more about abortion, mexicans, guns and billionaires i don't think infrastructure is high on the list. cut, cut, cut, well guess what they cut? they wanted to take and sell the 440mhz/70cm band. a band that is used often and used by emergency groups made up of ham operators.

good thing i plan for these things. doing some training too and volunteer work. emergency communication and power are important things we have let slide. getting politicians on either side to listen to actual scientists and engineers has always been difficult without money involved.

The only point I'll give to the utility company is that idiots don't want to remove limbs or trees so power lines are clear of them.

A similar thing happens out here with fires. People who live in brush or forested areas refuse to clear a fire break around their homes. They'd just rather have fire-fighters who are supposed to be fighting brush and forest fires to burn to death defending the idiots' houses.

But other than that, a pubic utility that has to pay out a return to investors has a different priority than most people think.

I saw a fistfight Monday at one of the few then-open gas stations in the area, so I can only imagine how ugly it's getting in CT.

There are still a crapload of big broken tree limbs hanging up in the treetops. We're going to see a fresh round of outages the first day the wind picks up.

"If people want to vent, call us, see us on Facebook," Ummm. About that...

spman: Mine was restored on Tuesday thank god, but I know some people at work that have been out for over a week now. The combination of incompetant Democrats in our state government and a monopolized utility industry that doesn't care, I wouldn't be surprised if some people are still without power for another week.

Not that I am on the GOP Pep-Sqaud, but blaming them for a power failure is as stupid as them blaming the Dems for the economy

Molavian: Trance750: Not that I am on the GOP Pep-Sqaud, but blaming them for a power failure is as stupid as them blaming the Dems for the economy

They should both be blamed. Infrastructure in New England is pitiful. They worry about the power dropping if it rains out. Nor'easter? Last time I was out there it was what everyone was talking about. It was drizzling and people were worried about flooding and power outages.

Update yo shiat.

So can I blame George Bush for Katrina, then?

Most Americans have been without power for XX years.


/Insert number of years you believe the oligarchy has completely controlled public policy.

NIXON YOU DOLT!!!!!: Current prices from Homedepot.com:

Portable generator: $199
Space heater: $20

Plan the fark ahead people. It's not like you didn't know this was coming, and didn't know lack of power was a significant possibility.

It's the governments job to for think ahead for you, didn't you learn anything from Katrina?

Generators exist for a reason.

animalmagnet: I wonder if they've ever heard of putting power lines underground. That's what they do in civilized countries.


Add it to the list of multi-billion dollar infrastructure projects that need to be done.

Funny, you'd think all these projects would be among the mysterious job creators you read about... but yet, somehow the gov won't put up the money to do it...

Trance750: Molavian:

So can I blame George Bush for Katrina, then?

Might as well, everyone else did.

Outlaw Thirds: Generators exist for a reason.

People living in apt complexes aren't allowed to have generators.

TheDirtyNacho: animalmagnet: I wonder if they've ever heard of putting power lines underground. That's what they do in civilized countries.


Add it to the list of multi-billion dollar infrastructure projects that need to be done.

Funny, you'd think all these projects would be among the mysterious job creators you read about... but yet, somehow the gov won't put up the money to do it...

That's because it isn't sexy, like a high-speed bullet train to Bakersfield.

TheShavingofOccam123: But other than that, a pubic utility that has to pay out a return to investorsmonopoly has a different priority than most people think.

FTFY. As an investor in a company like this, I'd be irate. People without power are people who aren't buying the company's product.

austin_millbarge: Just wait til the whole system collapses. You think this is bad?

won't be too long.

INeedAName: People living in apt complexes aren't allowed to have generators.

Huh. In these conditions, I wonder how many of your neighbors would reallllly biatch about it.........

"Dear Landlord, I have a right to be safe in my home, and you have an obligation to maintain my home that I am renting from you in a safe an livable fashion. It is currently subzero. Since you will not provide back-up power generation for us because you are a cheap fark, I am going to be sticking this portable generator outside of my bedroom window until CL & P pulls their heads out of their asses and fixes this. And I'll be sharing my power with my less fortunate neighbors so they can at least run a little space heater too. Come at us, bro."

TheDirtyNacho: animalmagnet: I wonder if they've ever heard of putting power lines underground. That's what they do in civilized countries.


Add it to the list of multi-billion dollar infrastructure projects that need to be done.

Funny, you'd think all these projects would be among the mysterious job creators you read about... but yet, somehow the gov won't put up the money to do it...

You know, this is a very good point. That is a project that would be good for everyone, not only for storm-safety but for aesthetic reasons, and it is in the finest tradition of "the world needs ditch diggers, too," which means almost any unemployed person could do the work.

Contact your congressman.

Remember the good times and everybody laughed cuz it had not rained in Texas for 2 months and it was 100+ degrees every day? Remember those days? Oh man, those were such good times....

Atlanta 1973 Ice Storm. Took us four days just to chainsaw our way out of the neighborhood through the amaZing Pick_Up_Sticks jumble of downed pine trees and 14 days without power.

Suck it up, Yankees.

Link (new window) Country Boy Can Survive

Wild Eyed and Wicked: I went without power for nearly one month after the ice storm in Kentucky a few years ago...by the first week, I had acquired a generator, a kerosene heater, a space heater and a turkey fryer that I used the base to cook on. Yes, it sucked balls but it can be done. They need to get bootstrappy and assume it will be out forever and come up with a plan...

THIS

It's almost as if instead of power companies being monopolies that cut upkeep and repair personnel costs to maximize profits, they should be public services maintained as a necessity regardless of cost.

But that's crazy talk in Freemarketopia, I mean, the US.

spman: Mine was restored on Tuesday thank god, but I know some people at work that have been out for over a week now. The combination of incompetant Democrats in our state government and a monopolized utility industry that doesn't care, I wouldn't be surprised if some people are still without power for another week.

No taxes or spending on infrastructure! We are bootstrappy and don't need the government to help us!

Libs! Libs! Libs!

Derp.

GORDON: TheDirtyNacho: animalmagnet: I wonder if they've ever heard of putting power lines underground. That's what they do in civilized countries.


Add it to the list of multi-billion dollar infrastructure projects that need to be done.

Funny, you'd think all these projects would be among the mysterious job creators you read about... but yet, somehow the gov won't put up the money to do it...

You know, this is a very good point. That is a project that would be good for everyone, not only for storm-safety but for aesthetic reasons, and it is in the finest tradition of "the world needs ditch diggers, too," which means almost any unemployed person could do the work.

Contact your congressman.


But wait - isn't the government spending money bad? For some reason?

We need some more tax breaks for the wealthy so a bootstrappy private business can come in and bury everyone's powerlines. And fix bridges. Maybe clean up a park.

/chewbacca

chrylis: TheShavingofOccam123: But other than that, a pubic utility that has to pay out a return to investorsmonopoly has a different priority than most people think.

FTFY. As an investor in a company like this, I'd be irate. People without power are people who aren't buying the company's product.



Granted sales are currently down but you don't see a 21 percent rise in earnings by spending money upgrading infrastructure, maintaining emergency crews and other added costs that take away from your investors' returns. "Cost control measures" for this company meant not being prepared for a real emergency. (new window)

kd8our: spman: Mine was restored on Tuesday thank god, but I know some people at work that have been out for over a week now. The combination of incompetant Democrats in our state government and a monopolized utility industry that doesn't care, I wouldn't be surprised if some people are still without power for another week.

i am sure both sides are guilty but when your party cares more about abortion, mexicans, guns and billionaires i don't think infrastructure is high on the list. cut, cut, cut, well guess what they cut? they wanted to take and sell the 440mhz/70cm band. a band that is used often and used by emergency groups made up of ham operators.

good thing i plan for these things. doing some training too and volunteer work. emergency communication and power are important things we have let slide. getting politicians on either side to listen to actual scientists and engineers has always been difficult without money involved.

they wanted to take and sell the 440mhz/70cm band. a band that is used often and used by emergency groups made up of ham operators.


WTF are you kidding?! Ham Radio is my back up plan if all hell breaks loose.

Clemkadidlefark: Atlanta 1973 Ice Storm. Took us four days just to chainsaw our way out of the neighborhood through the amaZing Pick_Up_Sticks jumble of downed pine trees and 14 days without power.

Suck it up, Yankees.

Link (new window) Country Boy Can Survive

So, because your power company was staffed by incompetent rednecks, instead of demanding improved service you tell other people to suck it up and deal with it?

NIXON YOU DOLT!!!!!: I'll be sharing my power with my less fortunate neighbors so they can at least run a little space heater too

My little Honda jenny might run three space heaters at most (3500 watts), leaving nothing for lights, tv, computers, etc.

I would imagine that one operational generator in a single tenents unit would lead to some serious Lord of the Flies-like complications.

NIXON YOU DOLT!!!!!: INeedAName: People living in apt complexes aren't allowed to have generators.

Huh. In these conditions, I wonder how many of your neighbors would reallllly biatch about it.........

"Dear Landlord, I have a right to be safe in my home, and you have an obligation to maintain my home that I am renting from you in a safe an livable fashion. It is currently subzero. Since you will not provide back-up power generation for us because you are a cheap fark, I am going to be sticking this portable generator outside of my bedroom window until CL & P pulls their heads out of their asses and fixes this. And I'll be sharing my power with my less fortunate neighbors so they can at least run a little space heater too. Come at us, bro."

I live on the 8th floor, and I have no balcony.

Just wait until Occupy Hartford gets rolling. When billionaires run home crying, they're going to take their power plants with them.

GORDON: Trance750: Molavian:

So can I blame George Bush for Katrina, then?

Might as well, everyone else did.

I'm just making a casual observation about how stupid it is to blame any political entity for the effects of weather. But what can I say? Haters are gonna hate

GORDON: TheDirtyNacho: animalmagnet: I wonder if they've ever heard of putting power lines underground. That's what they do in civilized countries.


Add it to the list of multi-billion dollar infrastructure projects that need to be done.

Funny, you'd think all these projects would be among the mysterious job creators you read about... but yet, somehow the gov won't put up the money to do it...

You know, this is a very good point. That is a project that would be good for everyone, not only for storm-safety but for aesthetic reasons, and it is in the finest tradition of "the world needs ditch diggers, too," which means almost any unemployed person could do the work.

Contact your congressman.

I can think of a whole host of reasons why they don't put power lines underground as a matter of course.

This not being the least of them:

Seacop: NIXON YOU DOLT!!!!!: INeedAName: People living in apt complexes aren't allowed to have generators.

Huh. In these conditions, I wonder how many of your neighbors would reallllly biatch about it.........

"Dear Landlord, I have a right to be safe in my home, and you have an obligation to maintain my home that I am renting from you in a safe an livable fashion. It is currently subzero. Since you will not provide back-up power generation for us because you are a cheap fark, I am going to be sticking this portable generator outside of my bedroom window until CL & P pulls their heads out of their asses and fixes this. And I'll be sharing my power with my less fortunate neighbors so they can at least run a little space heater too. Come at us, bro."

I live on the 8th floor, and I have no balcony.

So keep it in the hall, or open the window. Do you rely on the internet for all your advice?

Based on the history of past large power outages, there's going to be crap load of babies born in 9 months. So, seeing that a lot of guys are getting some pussy they otherwise wouldn't be getting, I fail to see what they're complaining about.

What are people suing for lol?

I'd imagine generators are a bit hard to find around there. Plus when I was looking at them they burned about 6 gallons of gas a day, which is a lot of gas to have around the house if you want to plan for a few days of outages.

But be nice to power crews. They aren't the ones you want to be pissing off. It is kind of like the gate agent at the airport. If you piss one of them off you're not getting out of the airport until 2013.

But having a kerosene heater and some kerosene around is a good idea. You do have to crack open a window.

I live in Northern Ohio - for $800 bucks I bought a 6kw generator (obviously not a Honda UltraQuiet whatever but it gets the job done) and had a disconnect/transfer switch put outside on my panel. I spent 30 minutes figuring on how many circuits I could have on so that the fridge/furnace blower and other essentials can be on. Amazingly with the exception of trying to solo power the air conditioner (initial load is too high) and ignoring the electric dryer completely I can almost run my whole house off that thing.

If you OWN your house there really isnt much excuse for not being at least a bit prepared.... I have a world of sympathy for renters - they basically can't do shiat except get the hell out of town till power comes back.

I sleep SOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better during storms/winter knowing that if the shiat really hits the fan I'll be fine - at least for a while - worth every penny x 100.

Matthew Keene: Seacop: NIXON YOU DOLT!!!!!: INeedAName: People living in apt complexes aren't allowed to have generators.

Huh. In these conditions, I wonder how many of your neighbors would reallllly biatch about it.........

"Dear Landlord, I have a right to be safe in my home, and you have an obligation to maintain my home that I am renting from you in a safe an livable fashion. It is currently subzero. Since you will not provide back-up power generation for us because you are a cheap fark, I am going to be sticking this portable generator outside of my bedroom window until CL & P pulls their heads out of their asses and fixes this. And I'll be sharing my power with my less fortunate neighbors so they can at least run a little space heater too. Come at us, bro."

I live on the 8th floor, and I have no balcony.

So keep it in the hall, or open the window. Do you rely on the internet for all your advice?

I thought we were playing a game.

Butler said he was sorry so many residents have been left without power for so long during the chilly nights. He said Friday that his own house in the Farmington Valley has been without power since a generator failed, and he urged customers to remember the extent of the damage.

Okay, this is just incompetent. If he was getting rich at the expense of poor people that would be one thing, but to be caught in the trap himself is just sad. As the COO he knew what state the network was in. He knew that winter was coming. He should have known that weather would likely be getting more extreme in the coming years thanks to climate change (even if he was one of the idiots who believes that climate change is men made). He should have known that an event like this was possible if not likely at some point. If he had neglected to invest in the infrastructure in order to increase profits and his own bonus that would have been simple capitalism. But to neglect his own preparedness just speak of carelessness. It is not like he could not afford a more redundant backup power solution. This guy is obviously not an evil mastermind but a poor ignorant idiot.

As someone who is directly responsible for storm restoration for an electric utility, I'm getting a kick...

There are a few things to consider about this event:

Wet, heavy snow before the leaves fall is a very rare and very bad thing. It is a freak event that you can't really prepare for. We didn't get hit anywhere near as bad as Connecticut and some of the other New England states, but I was stunned by the extent of the tree damage here in Pennsylvania. Probably the worst I've seen since I started.

Most utilities are publicly held, with shareholders that expect dividends and ever increasing stock value. Ways to provide these things on a yearly basis include cutting manpower, reducing infrastructure maintenance, reducing tree trimming, and postponing or eliminating needed upgrades to lines and substations and other equipment. All of these things add to unreliability and delays in restoration after big events like this. And I have seen all of these methods used in both of the utilities I have worked for over the past 12 years. And it isn't going to get any better anytime soon. In Pa, we have a fairly strong state utility commission. They make it very difficult to raise prices, and when they are the increases are often significantly less than what we ask for. So you have to find that money to feed the stockholders somewhere.

Most of the people in the trenches (lineman, substation repairman, etc) that I have met are extremely competent, dedicated, and hard working. Back when I first started, these guys would often work 3 or 4 days straight with no rest after an event such as this. But that's not allowed anymore, and probably shouldn't be. But the fact is, your utility is lying to you when they tell you that people are working around the clock to restore your power. We pulled our people out of the field at 10pm on Saturday and Sunday immediately following the storm, with over a hundred thousand people out of power. Overtime costs money. We've also had problems with turnover as the older, experienced people are starting to retire, and younger people don't seem to have what it takes to be out there climbing poles and such in the middle of a snowstorm, even though they can make well over $100K in a good year. We have some new good people, but not nearly enough to make up for the experience we are losing. I understand people going ballistic after not having their power for a week. But blaming the guys in those bucket trucks that are doing everything humanly possible to help you is really not the way to go.

Wild Eyed and Wicked: I went without power for nearly one month after the ice storm in Kentucky a few years ago...by the first week, I had acquired a generator, a kerosene heater, a space heater and a turkey fryer that I used the base to cook on. Yes, it sucked balls but it can be done. They need to get bootstrappy and assume it will be out forever and come up with a plan...

This. I went eleven days when the ice storm hit New England a couple of years back. I was starting to go a little stir crazy toward the end, but keeping the stove stoked helped break the monotony.

It also helped bring my neighborhood together. We all traded off supplies until we were all bootstrappy in our own right.