posted on May 8, 2001 03:24:40 PM
Well, here we are another day in CA facing rolling blackouts. We were lucky enough to find extra power for a few hours today. But, now they're saying it ran out and the next few hours will be critical. We are now in stage 3 alert.
Don't forget eBay and AW are in CA. I know my auctions ... bidding and selling are going to be in trouble all summer. Even if eBay or AW don't go down bidders and sellers will at different times.
Got to go police scanner just said black out is starting in my city.
posted on May 8, 2001 03:57:46 PM
We were hit with the last round. It's really not a big deal. No power for one hour. Whoopee.
Every building I've worked in that had more that 100 employees always had a diesel emergency generator to keep the lights on and UPS systems to keep the computers going for 2+ hours.
Gotta go. Thermostat needs to be turned a bit cooler, the dog looks uncomfortable.
posted on May 8, 2001 04:00:20 PM
I don't like losing power for an hour or two but I believe they are blowing this problem way out of proportion. In most cases it just isn't that critical. If it is you can get an exemption from the blackouts. (Its not really a blackout because its usually during daylight hours and its relatively small areas. A blackout is when you turn of all the lights so the incomming bombers don't know where to drop their bombs).
Ebay should be able to afford a back up generator for any of these short term 1 to 2 hr blackouts that hit their area once or twice a week at most.
posted on May 8, 2001 04:17:49 PM
I dont live in CA but what they are doing there is deffinately not blackouts.
they are minor power outages and they are sincerly makeing more out of them then is nessary they are frist drawing attention to them by haveing them in the day time if they were at night better percentage of peope would never know they happened.
in fact power could go out between 2 and 4 in in the morning and most would know or care.
but to draw attention to things and "Justify" there steep incresses in power bills they do it at peek times to get the majority of people so pissed they dont care how high there bill goes as long as power stays on.
technically when they turn out the power your bill should go down since the meter isnt moveing at all but my guess is if you check the bill it stayed the same or went up nevr got the credit for the hour with out power happens here in NY all the time.
I live in the woods here many times after storm we can go up to 4 and 5 days before power come back on and still at the end of the month get bill just like we had power all month.
posted on May 8, 2001 04:32:21 PM
Backup generators are OUT for the most part in CA, as only a very few businesses like hospitals, etc have EPA(CA) approved generators and those that are not approved are illegal to use and if caught using, carries a really stiff fine and even jail time...
Ask yourself this question...
How come, all of a sudden, there is NOT enough electricity for everyone..when there was enough last year in the summer and on and on..?
All of a sudden, 10 million NEW people and businesses moved into CA..?? DUH..!!!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Perspective...
The 10 Commandments: 179 words.
The Declaration of Independence: 1,300 words.
US Government regs on the sale of cabbage: 26,911 words.
Visit http://mrbucks.com
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
posted on May 8, 2001 04:53:15 PM
It's a vast, right-wing conspiracy to line the pockets of big oil, big electricity, and big business. I cannot believe that power consumption (electricity, natural gas and gasoline) has risen enough in the last 6 months or year to justify the absolutely OBSCENE costs that we've experienced. Big corporations involved with these power sources are making record profits, and consumers (especially those of us in California) are getting ROYALLY SCREWED!!!!!!!!!!
JMO...
P.S. OK, it may not be a VAST right-wing conspiracy, but Bush and Cheney are in bed with big oil and big business...and THAT opinion is shared by a majority of Americans, if recent polls are to be believed!
posted on May 8, 2001 05:07:39 PM
Here in CA, we call them rolling blackouts.
They are planned and by "grid". I think there is 14 of these grids. They go out in order. They don't announce before hand when but if you know your grid # you'll know that you're next...
There are NO EXCEPTIONS unless you live on the same grid as a hospital or police station. (Ask some major players in Silicon Valley about what happened about a month ago...)
It is not a vast right wing conspiracy but a greedy Republican aided fleecing of the state of Ca.
Enron is in Texas ... (wholesaler)
the shrub's homestate.
Remember, the answer is not to conserve (Cheney) but to drill, drill, drill!
posted on May 8, 2001 07:38:12 PM
Does Cal. use those thingies that shut off your major appliances when power is in short supply? Here in Fla. I have 3 load control devices, (a.c., water heater, Pool equipment) that can be shut off by remote control. I get a few bucks credit on my bill to have them. A couple of times the heater and the a.c. have gone off for a couple of hours and nobody really notices. Wouldn't that work out there?
posted on May 8, 2001 08:09:21 PM
Arttsupply you get the top prize for the most accurate reporting! The rolling blackouts only last an hour in each area hit.
Many large users of electricity, like big businesses or colleges have arrangements to reduce power to try and avoid the rolling blackouts. At one University they have lights turned off in hallways, and most buildings with more than one elevator only have one elevator working. They are also hooked up with portable generators. (I go to this University.)
I would imagine that Ebay has a back-up plan that may include a generator. I don't know how large their computer system is. Most servers need a cool room to work well. If the room heats up for a period of time they may risk serious damage to the computers.
If bidders/sellers from CA say they can't mail packages or send payments due to these interuptions, they are feeding you a line of bull doo doo.
I also agree with Arttsupply's assessment of why this is happening.
Oh, and Los Angeles (the city) is not affected, because they purchased power from a different supply prior to this happening. The person then in charge was a Republican, and he has since moved to Washington DC to work with the President!!
posted on May 8, 2001 10:50:10 PMdman3 said
in fact power could go out between 2 and 4 in in the morning and most would know or care.
But, that would be useless, because the power grids are not overworked at that time. VERY few folks would have AC running at Max, and MANY office buildings, schools, etc. would not be operating....
My biggest laugh at this whole situation is that Dumya insists it is a "California problem"..
Yeah, until prices start rising for products (including produce, etc.) that are manufactured in CA...don't think those prices won't be passed on to the consumer!!!!
Keith
I assume full responsibility for my actions, except
the ones that are someone else's fault.
posted on May 9, 2001 05:02:50 AM
dman -
"power could go out between 2 and 4 in in the morning and most would know or care."
But you can't save that electricity and distribute it later. CA is running into a "peak load" problem where the usage at certain times is above what the generating plants can produce.
Electricity distribution is much like water, except that the voltage is the "pressure". When everyone on the grid has their taps wide open (AC on, jacuzzi motor running, etc.) the pressure falls so much that it is below what appliances and lights need to run on.
That's a "brownout" ... and it's worse to have a statewide brownout because it overloads the generators and makes them more likely to fail.
posted on May 9, 2001 05:37:56 AM
Still wondering if anyone out there has remote-controlled load control. Pretty handy here for FPL to be able to shut down water heaters, A.C.s, and pool equipment at their will. Wondering where else in the U.S. this is available?
posted on May 9, 2001 09:16:12 AM
rgrem - I'm sorry I didn't get back to answer your question. We don't as yet have these control devices, but it's being discussed. I think it's a very good idea.
I also wanted to comment on the peak usage time. As other's have stated, it wouldn't do any good to have power off at night. During the day is when most power is used.
arttsupplies - yes, there are 14 grids, I'm in grid 2. Maybe people in other states don't understand that when a grid goes down it hits accross the state not in one small area. So, when my grid is affected it can also be in Southern CA.
MRBucks - people that don't live here can't fathom the fast growth we've had. The Bay area (me, eBay, AW) has the second worst traffic in the nation, LA is the first. This has just happened in the last few years.
It's not just an inconveniece concerning eBay sales. It effects small business. They lose business during the blackout and utility bills go up which in turn raises prices.
There are very few exemptions and not all larger businesses have back-ups. They're worried about chemical plants for instance. There is also talk about removing hospitols, and public service from that status.
Don't forget it also affects traffic lights. Quite a big deal when it happens in a large city like San Francisco.
posted on May 9, 2001 09:29:51 AMrgrem - I'm sorry I didn't get back to answer your question. We don't as yet have these control devices, but it's being discussed.
SCE had a program (this was 10 or 15 years ago) where they offered you a discount on your electric bill if you let them put a remote control shutoff device on your AC.
posted on May 9, 2001 10:36:30 AM
I totally agree that black-outs are short enough that anyone claiming they "could not mail payment/ship item" is using a ready-made excuse.
sasoonyMy biggest laugh will be when we vote his arrogant ass out of office. Even house and senate republicans are turning against him.....Bravo
One of my big gripes about this rigged-up energy situation: People on subsidized Housing were interviewed...Now they pay NO UTILITIES. When asked if they do their share to conserve electricity, one said: Heck no! TV stays on all night. When asked if it was because he did not have to pay, answer was "That's right"...
That pizzed me off so bad!!!!!Who pays for his rent/utilities? We all do, through Taxes...I totally understand being in need of help...I DO NOT understand being so un-concerned....
posted on May 9, 2001 10:47:49 AM
Hi Shosh how you doing?
I saw that on the news made me mad too! But, I'm on subsidized housing, and I pay the high price everyone else is paying. So, it's not all of us. Do wonder how those apartments have free utilities.
posted on May 9, 2001 11:21:46 AM
EBay (and other major websites) colocate their servers in hosting space provided by third party companies such as Exodus (happens to be EBay's provider). These colocation spaces are climate controlled, secured facilities, with their own emergency backup generators that are approved by all appropriate state and local authorities. So the EBay offices might lose power during a rolling blackout, but their servers don't.
posted on May 9, 2001 12:47:39 PM
Thanks rca, that makes sense.
I just found another city in call not affected my the blackouts - Huntington Beach - they purchased their energy from another source prior to the problems.
posted on May 9, 2001 02:20:33 PM
There have already been people die because of the traffic lights being out. That is one of the most serious problems a power outage causes.
When the power goes down do you lose service from the cellular towers in that area?
posted on May 9, 2001 04:19:35 PM
gravid, I haven't heard of any deaths caused directly by the few outages we've had. Not in SoCal anyway.
I would imagine that some cell phone towers might lose power, but in SoCal there are so damn many that your signal would simply move to the next tower. When we were hit with a "rolling blackout" last month my cell phone still worked, as did my regular phone, DSL connection to my laptop, toilets, front door, and mini-van.
IT's NO BIG DEAL! IT's ONE HOUR at a time!
An inconvenience, I suppose, but an Emergency? ...Give me a break.
posted on May 9, 2001 05:03:11 PM
Hiya, Chococake....Waving at ya
In no way did I imply that ALL subsidized-housing tenants behave in that manner; that is why I mentioned that ONE in particular. As to "free utilities", from what I understand, if the property was built on government property to begin with, there would be no meters. For instance, the Presidio housing in San Francisco, which was bought up upon the base closing, is also meter-free, because it was originally a US installation. (The new owners paid through the nose for that prime property!!!)
borgt: Yes, we have had two deaths and several accidents in San Francisco, caused by traffic lights going out...A real mess, more than just a small inconvenience.
Since many counties buy their energy from a multitude of suppliers, it so happened that L.A. got a good deal a while back, while our suppliers up North, were already gouging us, and yesterday, one reneged on their promise of a deal for our County
posted on May 9, 2001 05:06:43 PM
Blame the oil companies, Republicans, Bush, and even welfare receipients - RIGHT!!!
Ca's population doubles and you guys don't want Nuke plants but you'll accept Nuke generated electricity from other states; same for other states drilling oil wells, daming rivers, or having coal fired plants and CA scarfing up their power - thats fine!!
Also, how can there be a power shortage in Loony Land as I seem to remember that your non-Republican Gov fixing everything - kinda' like when Chamberlain declared "peace in our time".
Keep your Green, Crystal laden mitts off Arizona's Nuclear generated electricity. It's 110 Degrees here today so I'm going to lower my air conditioner to 70 in sympathy with poor California. Oh and have a cool one too!
Dan in Phoenix
posted on May 9, 2001 05:22:33 PM
Hmmmm....Choosing to roast in absolutely dry heat which sears the lungs, year after year seems rather loony to me...
Don't cry, Californians: That too shall pass.... I hope sooner than later
What a pleasant day it was today...coooooool, breezy; the PERFECT climate...
******** Gosh Shosh!
posted on May 9, 2001 06:26:19 PM
How much are people paying for residential electricity in California? In Iowa when I parse the various costs, fees, and taxes I pay 9 to 10 cents per KWH.
