utilities

[da prez]

  Indiana had major power outages. News reporters and local government upset over the failure to get the power restored.
  Water main break flooded basements and water was shut down while being repaired.
 
  JUST turn the electricity back on. It will be OK. all the downed wires will magically heal them selves.
  The water main is similar. Leave the water on while repairing.
  I worked underground and did water repairs.  My nephew worked as a lineman.
  The company I worked for , one at a time took the office workers to a job for a full day. They needed to see firsthand what we did in emergencies.
  Power companies have to make sure the downed wires are all properly repaired before hooking up the feeder.
  TAKE the media and gov nitwits on a job. Not for five minutes , a full day.
  We worked many a 16 to 20 hour days restoring services ,while missing family functions.
    THE REAL STOTY NEEDEDS TO BE TOLD.

                                          da prez

[carolinarider09]

There are, in my opinion, many things the media and the public do not know about "Power Line Maintenance".  Now, I did work for a power company but I was a Nuclear "person".  And yes we did some things that required special "steps" to accomplish.

One day, while I was at the Control Board at the nuclear plant at which I worked in Florida, a gentleman came up and introduced himself.  He was a lineman but was interested in becoming part of the nuclear group. So, he was here to become familiar with what we did.

As we talked about nuclear stuff, I did ask some questions about his "Lineman" activities.  One of the things I had not really considered was the "response" time that was expected for power line events. These events generally happen at off hours and in the dark and miles from their homes.  But "Lineman" are expected to respond quickly.  We talked about that and how the lineman maintained their readiness.  Now this was in the 1974 or 75.  And things have changed but, I suspect, the requirements for response have not changed.  One of the things he showed me, one afternoon in the Control Room, was his wallet and he showed by the $100 bill he kept there just so he could be prepared for a quick response to a need.  That was a lot of money back then.  I was impressed.  And, as I continued in Nuclear Power learning many "safety" things, I think that Linemen have the same appreciation for safety on and off the job.

And yes, Lineman can be asked to do some "strange" things. I found this Youtube video when looking for something to use as part of some training I was doing.  The idea was to get the classes attention.  Here is the video I found.

https://youtu.be/oBJyyEAw-6g?si=xVrO-vQfyKJaQywY

[Jersey mike]

I know bad language isn't allowed but anyone who does this has a set of brass ones.

Many years ago I was friends with someone who went to training to be a lineman and he was a pretty smart, gutsy and tough guy but after a couple weeks he dropped out and left. He said it was nerve wracking for him.

We've had several outages in our neighborhood over the years and watching the guys work, nothing is fast, it's all deliberate and methodical but they make it seem oh so easy and simple. I give everyone of them a lot of credit.

[scooperhsd]

The only thing I could add is that the people who restore our utilities from an outage aren't appreciated enough. I've seen what can happen when a hurricane comes through ( total  devastation of the electric grid ), and at this stage of my life, I have no desire to get involved with that.

[Jersey mike]

The only thing I could add is that the people who restore our utilities from an outage aren't appreciated enough. I've seen what can happen when a hurricane comes through ( total  devastation of the electric grid ), and at this stage of my life, I have no desire to get involved with that.

Back in 2012 when Hurricane/Super Storm Sandy blew through and devastated NJ we had crews from all over working to restore power. I wish I could remember exactly where those guys came from, I think some from Ohio and some southern states but they worked for a long time on all types of issues. I know when other states have had similar problems crews from NJ would travel to help out as well. That being said, it's great to know there are people who can and will work through some difficult situations with little recognition for their efforts. Too many think it's as simple as just plugging in an extension cord.

[F6Dave]

It's easy to take energy for granted. Flip a switch and lights come on. Touch a thermostat and your home cools of warms. Spend a few minutes filling your tank and you have enough liquid energy to travel hundreds of miles. Our ancestors couldn't have imagined such a lifestyle. And because energy is readily available when and where you want it, we tend to forget the incredible people and infrastructure required to generate and deliver it. Many people don't even know where energy comes from, which reminds me of a funny story...

Back in the 90s, when I was writing software at Texaco, one of my co-workers was asked to judge a high school science fair. One of the projects was an impressive array of electrical devices. As I remember the display included high tech devices of that era, like PCs and cordless phones. And nearly everything plugged in back then, as lithium-ion batteries were just starting to hit the market.

The student seemed pretty knowledgeable, and my co-worker was curious about his thoughts on the electricity that fed all his gadgets. So he asked, 'tell us where the electricity comes from'. The kid's answer was simply 'from the wall'. After a few follow up questions my co-worker realized that the student had absolutely no idea how electricity got to that outlet in the wall. How did this kid build such an impressive science project about electricity? Maybe he had help from his parents.

Unfortunately the world is full of people like that kid. And a lot of them are in the government setting energy policies that affect all of us.

[old2soon]

     Eectricity. People have NO idea how much it's in our daily lives til it aint available! My aartment is Totally electric. And I have 3 medical devices that ONLY operate correctly with electricity. And I'd be sorta O K until I ran outa O2  tanks which B T W need electricity to refill the tanks! You have an I C E powered vehicle y'all KNOW what don't happen with a dead battery!    In Fact right now I'm working on my 2nd cup of coffee made possible by my electric coffee pot!    Soon as I unazzed the rack this A M I turned off the CPAP and turned on the O2 concentrator for my O2 needs started my coffee pot and put the juice in my nebulizer! ALL powered by the electricity wired into my apartment!
     Long time back I bent conduit pulled wires installed breaker panels/boxes and listened to home owners complain cuz the switch box covers did NOT match their paint scheme!    RIDE SAFE.

[scooperhsd]

After remodeling the basement this summer for some friends to move in - I better not hear anything about switch / outlet plates colors not matching their decor. Now - when the contractors didn't do a good job reinstalling them, leaving gaps - I agreed with the wife that the issue needed resolving.

[scooperhsd]

Speaking of construction activity - the end is in sight !

Basement - put in and put trim around door for water softener acces
put in LEVEL concrete pad for kitchenette.
Shrink the cabinet around the main breaker panel by 4.5 inches
Replace the weatherstriping around one of the doors (zero F is not unknown around here in the winter) - I do not want to be able to see light around the edge of doors

1st floor where me and wife mostly live) - new floors for EVERYWHERE 9except our bathroom. Contractor has some vehicle problem, so things are behind

Attic - Junk hauling company scheduled for next friday (Oct 16)

I am SO LOOKING FORWARD to all this being completed !!!!