ice storms and electricity

Don Quixote

Don Quixote

cancer survivor
Contributor
ice storms and power outages - why

underground utilities would solve the problem of downed power lines

the usual problem, money

with weather getting weirder and weirder, would not underground utilities be better than prolonged power outages
 
Indeed it would. At least from a standpoint of the trees and weight of the ice itself taking down lines.

But you will still have to have the major transmission lines in the air. The high voltage lines do not do well in underground conduits, and the distance at which the high voltage is dangerous would mean it would have to be very deep. Which would add to the cost.


Currently, installing fiber optic lines underground costs a minimum of about 5 times what the aerial lines cost.

You also have the potential for some very ugly combinations when underground utility easments are damaged. There have been situations where you have broken water mains, broken gas mains, and exposed power lines, all in a single area.



But you are right about underground powerlines being the answer to much of this. And, hopefully, there will be more and more of it.
 
I was without commercial power for 4 days. Had a couple of generators though. Used the 20KW PTO driven one on my home and let the Farm manager and his family use the smaller one. Was glad I had 200 gal of gas and around that much diesel on hand. About 1/4 of the hoomes in my county still do not have power. I took the tractor with the PTO driven one to a church down the road that is taking in people during the temps in the low teens.
If they had not been taking in people I would not have loaned them the genny.
 
I finally laid down the law to the parents in one couple staying with me until they get power back on. I go them aside from their children and told them they were guests in my home at my sufference which was wearing thin. And if not for their children I would have kicked them out already.
First problem they fussed about my no smoking in the house rule. I smoke but I go out to my enclosed (but unheated) patio to smoke. I caught them smoking inside a couple of times.
Second problem loud and whiney cons, just cussing the power company for not getting their power on. And whining about their water freezing in their home. I told them how to drain their water lines, but they would rather fuss than do.
3rd problem they wanted me to let their children use my workshop as a play room. VERY Dangerous in there and lots of stuff the kids could destroy.
My own grandchildren are only allowed in there while I am in there and they know not to touch anything unless given permission. The grandchildren do have their own work area and a couple little projects we work on.


they just complain and whine about everything and want to poke and nose in everything.
Their steak was not done properly, but they declined to help prepare the meal, etc...

The other couple and their children are fine and know how to be guests.

the PITA couple have already been talking about coming back over this summer to swim and such....Clueless fools, they may be lucky to live out the weekend.

Rant about stupid people that should never have children over.
 
Solitary said:
Indeed it would. At least from a standpoint of the trees and weight of the ice itself taking down lines.

But you will still have to have the major transmission lines in the air. The high voltage lines do not do well in underground conduits, and the distance at which the high voltage is dangerous would mean it would have to be very deep. Which would add to the cost.


Currently, installing fiber optic lines underground costs a minimum of about 5 times what the aerial lines cost.

You also have the potential for some very ugly combinations when underground utility easments are damaged. There have been situations where you have broken water mains, broken gas mains, and exposed power lines, all in a single area.



But you are right about underground powerlines being the answer to much of this. And, hopefully, there will be more and more of it.
Click to expand...

ca has had a rule that all new construction have underground utilities - and this is with earthquakes

this does not apply to major electrical high voltage lines

while heat and cold can screw with high voltage transmission lines, lower high voltage transmission lines can be be put underground

retrofitting is always more expensive
 
People Died!

Thank god there are people like usc that have helped out their neighbors, we all hate the whiners. In any case, the callous lack of government response to this multi-state disaster, is quite unforgivable. It's the government's job to protect it people and they failed:

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Headlines/Default.aspx?id=404804

FEMA condemned for slow response to ice storm crisis
Bruce Schreiner - Associated Press Writer - 1/31/2009 6:30:00 AM
MARION, Ky. - A crippling winter storm has plunged about a million customers into the dark from the Midwest to the East Coast, and thousands of people in ice-caked Kentucky have sought refuge in motels and shelters.

Dozens of deaths have been reported and many people are pleading for a faster response to the power outages. Some in rural Kentucky ran short of food and bottled water, and resorted to dipping buckets in a creek.

Thousands fled frigid, powerless homes for hotels and even a heated auditorium at Murray State University that was converted into a shelter following Monday's storm that left some areas in up to 1 inch ice.

Utility workers hoped to speed up efforts Saturday to turn the lights back on. Still, rural communities feared it could be days or even weeks before workers got to areas littered with downed power lines.

Temperatures were expected to rise just above freezing Saturday for the first time in days.

At least 42 people have died in the icy arc of destruction that began in the Midwest. At least nine deaths were reported in Arkansas, six each in Texas and Missouri, three in Virginia, two each in Oklahoma, Indiana and West Virginia and one in Ohio. Most were blamed on hypothermia, traffic accidents and carbon monoxide poisoning from generators...
Click to expand...
 
Annie said:
Thank god there are people like usc that have helped out their neighbors, we all hate the whiners. In any case, the callous lack of government response to this multi-state disaster, is quite unforgivable. It's the government's job to protect it people and they failed:

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Headlines/Default.aspx?id=404804
Click to expand...

you mean neighbors helping neighbors - what a novel concept

friends and neighbors were around before government welfare - but mostly, cities are too big and anonymous these days, so people freeze until organized help can arrive
 
DonQuixote said:
you mean neighbors helping neighbors - what a novel concept

friends and neighbors were around before government welfare - but mostly, cities are too big and anonymous these days, so people freeze until organized help can arrive
Click to expand...

Why help your neighbor when that's the governments job? Why prepare yourself, when that's the governments job?

However, I doubt anyone thinks that I really adhere to that. However many refuse to acknowledge the limits of government and that the idea of all of us need to take care of ourselves, our businesses, our friends and neighbors has been lost for many years. FEMA's response after Katrina was what it was, this disaster shows little has changed. Just like before, the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, and neighbors helping each other out is what has kept things going.
 
uscitizen said:
I finally laid down the law to the parents in one couple staying with me until they get power back on. I go them aside from their children and told them they were guests in my home at my sufference which was wearing thin. And if not for their children I would have kicked them out already.
First problem they fussed about my no smoking in the house rule. I smoke but I go out to my enclosed (but unheated) patio to smoke. I caught them smoking inside a couple of times.
Second problem loud and whiney cons, just cussing the power company for not getting their power on. And whining about their water freezing in their home. I told them how to drain their water lines, but they would rather fuss than do.
3rd problem they wanted me to let their children use my workshop as a play room. VERY Dangerous in there and lots of stuff the kids could destroy.
My own grandchildren are only allowed in there while I am in there and they know not to touch anything unless given permission. The grandchildren do have their own work area and a couple little projects we work on.


they just complain and whine about everything and want to poke and nose in everything.
Their steak was not done properly, but they declined to help prepare the meal, etc...

The other couple and their children are fine and know how to be guests.

the PITA couple have already been talking about coming back over this summer to swim and such....Clueless fools, they may be lucky to live out the weekend.

Rant about stupid people that should never have children over.
Click to expand...


Rant understood and much sympathy to you! I can't help but wonder if these people (who obviously don't have the foresight to prepare for such eventualities in the first place) would extend a hand and open their homes to others as you have done. I can't get over that they have the nerve to complain and demand, when they are guests! You are a fount of patience, my friend!
 
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