POWER MAINTENANCE OUTAGE - Page 3

feline groovy · ‎07-29-2014

Motel 6 is decent and usually reasonable.

kdgn · ‎03-09-2010

@WORKING GAL wrote:
We live in Eastern Ventura County in California and our electric company is So. Cal. Edison. Late last week we received a notice that Edison scheduled a maintenance power outage for 9:00 p.m. Tuesday 8/7 until 6:00 a.m. Wednesday 8/8. We have been having temps in the mid 90's with evenings in the mid to upper 70's. Starting today we are under an excessive heat warning and red flag alert because of hot, dry conditions. We are expected to have temps of well over 100 during the day and high 70's or higher at night. We will not have any electricity for 9 hours - no fans, AC, TV, computer - NADA. I think Edison is being irrespnsible and inconsiderate to schedule this during this heat wave. I was hoping they would re-think this and postpone it, but we just received a phone call reminder. What do you think?

I think you've been given plenty of advance warning for you to make preparations. SCE can't predict the weather but they can tell when equipment needs maintenance. These events are scheduled long in advance, the nighttime work is done for the sole purpose of causing as few disruptions to your life as possible. It's a lot better than 9 am to 6 pm!

Get your home as cool as you can, make sure to turn off the a/c unit prior to 9 pm so that if there's a power surge at 6 am your unit is protected. Same with any electronic equipment. If you are someone who stays up late, make sure your Kindle is fully charged (if you have one) and that all cell phones are also fully charged. Your security system, if you have one, will operated on the battery backup (mine did) without any problems. Portable phones will be useless, that's why the cell phones need to be charged. Make sure flashlights have new batteries, if you have battery operated lanterns get them ready. Flameless candles as night lights-again, new batteries.

We had an unscheduled power outage in June that lasted 11 hours overnight, my fridge and refrigerator maintained the food with no loss. I also didn't open either door.

But again, this is being done for the overall system, not for your overnight convenience or comfort. Doing it now prevents a future daytime episode. It also means they have all the equipment and manpower that they will need without any unnecessary wait time.

Be thankful they let your area know in enough time to prepare.

RoughDraft · ‎03-09-2010

I can think of worse scenarios. If they don't pull maintenance and the grid explodes, you'll be without power for days, weeks. Or what if the grid has been compromised by bad actors?

What did we do before air conditioning?

~The only difference between this place and the Titanic is that the Titanic had a band.~

ValuSkr · ‎03-15-2014

You can manage if you prepare for the outage as a few here have suggested. You don't need to stay in a hotel; it's an unnecessary expense. Your home can stay quite cool at night.

dooBdoo · ‎06-27-2010

Looking online, it appears these aren't "emergency" outages but, instead, are planned maintenance and upgrade work needed on a regular basis, they cover an enormous area, and they have to spread the schedule out through the entire year.
So, some of them by the unfortunate "luck of the draw" will land right in the middle of extreme weather patterns. (Extreme weather events are hard to avoid these days, since they're happening so much more often and are more sustained.) Their website offers information and help.

I live in a different part of the country and remember one of our scheduled maintenance outages (about 12 hours), exactly when we were hit with record-breaking low frigid temps and high winds... yikes! But I was grateful that they were systematically working their way through the grid and shoring up the infrastructure as a careful preventative measure rather than waiting for emergencies to hit widespread areas. Years ago a tornado left us without power for over a week (we stayed in our home and "camped out" with no electricity, internet, and only cell service).
It's not fun, but it's workable. I know it's a challenge, @WORKING GAL, and I hope you'll find a way to make it through with as little difficulty as possible.❤️

Few things reveal your intellect and your generosity of spirit—the parallel powers of your heart and mind—better than how you give feedback.~Maria Popova

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

I have to wonder if they are doing this on purpose because they are aware of weakness in the infrastructure and need to take some of the 'pressure' off of the equipment, or make repairs/upgrades just to keep sustaining the service. They might rather schedule it than have it go down as a surprise.

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

Not to get on my high horse, but people have to have back up plans for the weather/climate in which they live. Extreme heat is not only uncomfortable without power but dangerous.

Battery operated things when available, generators, alternate ways to do things.

We had an ice storm a number of years ago, and were without power for 5 days, but because of pre planning we were able to stay in our home, when our friends with two Eagle Scouts in the family, gave up and sought out a bed and breakfast to stay in! LOL

dooBdoo · ‎06-27-2010

@Mominohio wrote:
I have to wonder if they are doing this on purpose because they are aware of weakness in the infrastructure and need to take some of the 'pressure' off of the equipment, or make repairs/upgrades just to keep sustaining the service. They might rather schedule it than have it go down as a surprise.

I think that's what it is, @Mominohio. In addition, it's so much safer for the people doing the work -- they're often in peril when they have to fix those surprise outages as emergencies, and the maintenance work might help avoid that and prevent injuries to the humans involved.

Few things reveal your intellect and your generosity of spirit—the parallel powers of your heart and mind—better than how you give feedback.~Maria Popova

halfpint1 · ‎03-10-2010

I don't know if it was maintenance but I let Edison turn off if they need to, and they give some off the bill was 107 today and maybe they shut it off. I have a heck of a time putting the ac right and understanding how to set it right.

Krimpette · ‎03-09-2010

Be thankful it's only for 9 hours and that you've received warnings. We've had power outages in the dead of summer on the hottest days due to storms in recent years. I recall one that lasted for a couple of days. Not much good sleep. Cold showers, etc. I lived to tell about it. Again, be thankful that it's only for one night. You can do it! It might not be your favorite night to remember, but you can do it!