Why Do We

Desert Lily · ‎06-24-2011

Why do we still lose power in storms in 2022?

Sadly people died due to power outages in last weekend's blizzard. Power outages occur in tornadoes, monsoons, hurricanes, high winds; when the temps get too high & the grid can't handle it, floods, etc.

Power outages lose lives.

I truly don't understand the reason(s) behind outages in 2022.

My power lines are buried, but I still lost power Friday morning. Thank goodness it came back on later the same day.

I think? homes newer than about 25 years have buried power lines (they did where I lived on the West coast.), but they can still lose power.

Is it because power lines are above ground?

Is it due to power stations being exposed & vulnerable?

Is it because trees topple?

Is it because we're behind the times in updating our power?

Does anyone understand the power grids and know why we have power outages?

And, how do the power grids need to change so this doesn't happen anymore?

**Please don't make this political. I'm just trying to understand what happens and hope there are solutions someday.

JoyFilled Warrior · ‎09-02-2022

@Desert Lily wrote:
Why do we still lose power in storms in 2022?

Sadly people died due to power outages in last weekend's blizzard. Power outages occur in tornadoes, monsoons, hurricanes, high winds; when the temps get too high & the grid can't handle it, floods, etc.

Power outages lose lives.

I truly don't understand the reason(s) behind outages in 2022.
My power lines are buried, but I still lost power Friday morning. Thank goodness it came back on later the same day.
I think? homes newer than about 25 years have buried power lines (they did where I lived on the West coast.), but they can still lose power.

Is it because power lines are above ground?
Is it due to power stations being exposed & vulnerable?
Is it because trees topple?
Is it because we're behind the times in updating our power?

Does anyone understand the power grids and know why we have power outages?

**Please don't make this political. I'm just trying to understand what happens and hope there are solutions someday.

~~~~~~~~

@Desert Lily

Good question! I'm going to stay tuned for the answer!

moonandthestars · ‎03-11-2010

@Desert Lily all of the above, I believe - everything you mentioned. And probably a thing or two that were not listed. I'll be checking back too for ideas others may have.

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

@Desert Lily We almost never lose power in my town because its a new community incorporated about 1981. All the homes were built with underground utilities, although there are some power lines on main boulevards. Once in awhile a car will nail one in a wreck. Once we had a fire in a electric co. facility. I've lived here 23 years and we've only lost power 3 or 4 times and only briefly.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment

Goldengate8361 · ‎01-27-2014

This is unequivocal evidence that we definitely needed that federal investment in infrastructure that our leaders were able to get passed in Congress. It's going to take time to build up everything, including our power grid, since hardly any federal spending has been devoted to this up until just now. We are headed in the right direction, however, with current investments allocated for updates and improvements.

Desert Lily · ‎06-24-2011

@Kachina624 I had underground lines when I lived in the West (my house was 22 years old when I moved in April), and I have underground lines here in my new construction home.

But I lost power in the West a few times (usually in January with no explanation given), and I lost power here in PA on Friday.

It would seem that underground lines would be the answer, but I still lost power with them. So, I don't understand why.

It's good that your area has better control on the power system.

carlycat · ‎06-07-2010

I retired from an electric utility.

There are 2 kinds of power lines: transmission and distribution. Transmission is from the plant to the substation. It is the highest voltage. Substations "step" the power down to levels usable by the consumer. Transmission lines are generally above ground. They are the super big towers you see.

Distribution lines "distribute" power to end users. They exit the substation. They may be underground or above ground. So, any disruption to lines along the way can cause outages; wind, trees, lightning, snow, ice, squirrels are a big problem!

In addition, power flow must remain stable on the lines. There are people working 24/7 to maintain a steady state, I think they balance it like every 16 seconds! This means switching to keep power surges from happening. In storms, lightning and wind can throw things off.

Also a factor Is demand. When it gets really cold, or hot, or humid, everyone uses more power. The demand may outstrip supply. Utilities share power (well, buy it from each other) when they have to. When we have extreme weather all over, there just isn't enough, they can't make enough. Like what happened in Texas last year.

Needless to say, this is all terribly expensive. It costs over $3 million per mile to move a transmission line underground. Less than $1 million per mile to build above ground. To generate power, you can use coal, natural gas, wind, solar, hydroelectric, nuclear. All have pluses and minuses. All are expensive. The consumer has to pay for all of this; utilities are regulated by the government but not government owned. And of course, linemen have to work to keep the lines going. That's a dangerous job.

It's really an amazing system. We take it for granted and don't realize how difficult it is.

alliswell · ‎07-12-2012

@carlycat Thank you for your post, you explained some things I've wondered about.

gertrudecloset · ‎02-13-2021

@Desert Lily wrote:
Why do we still lose power in storms in 2022?

Sadly people died due to power outages in last weekend's blizzard. Power outages occur in tornadoes, monsoons, hurricanes, high winds; when the temps get too high & the grid can't handle it, floods, etc.

Power outages lose lives.

I truly don't understand the reason(s) behind outages in 2022.
My power lines are buried, but I still lost power Friday morning. Thank goodness it came back on later the same day.
I think? homes newer than about 25 years have buried power lines (they did where I lived on the West coast.), but they can still lose power.

Is it because power lines are above ground?
Is it due to power stations being exposed & vulnerable?
Is it because trees topple?
Is it because we're behind the times in updating our power?

Does anyone understand the power grids and know why we have power outages?

And, how do the power grids need to change so this doesn't happen anymore?

**Please don't make this political. I'm just trying to understand what happens and hope there are solutions someday.

@Desert Lily

Whether power lines are overhead or underground has nothing to do with the age of the home. Where I live (in a City) we have both. The power lines to my community are overhead. In other parts of the city they are buried underground because of the height of tall buildings and that sort of thing.

You do ask a good question though. Why with all our technological advancement does power outages cause so much death? When it's cold it's got to because the grids are trying to do their best. The same for when it's real hot with brown outs. Extreme conditions of any form seem to be problematic for power failure. Why can't we "damage proof" the power lines? We can do space flights, but we can't figure out ways to protect our resources from natural occurences in weather is a very good question.

A Negative Mind ~ Will give you a Negative Life

alliswell · ‎07-12-2012

@gertrudecloset wrote:
@Desert Lily wrote:
Why do we still lose power in storms in 2022?

Sadly people died due to power outages in last weekend's blizzard. Power outages occur in tornadoes, monsoons, hurricanes, high winds; when the temps get too high & the grid can't handle it, floods, etc.

Power outages lose lives.

I truly don't understand the reason(s) behind outages in 2022.
My power lines are buried, but I still lost power Friday morning. Thank goodness it came back on later the same day.
I think? homes newer than about 25 years have buried power lines (they did where I lived on the West coast.), but they can still lose power.

Is it because power lines are above ground?
Is it due to power stations being exposed & vulnerable?
Is it because trees topple?
Is it because we're behind the times in updating our power?

Does anyone understand the power grids and know why we have power outages?

And, how do the power grids need to change so this doesn't happen anymore?

**Please don't make this political. I'm just trying to understand what happens and hope there are solutions someday.

@Desert Lily
Whether power lines are overhead or underground has nothing to do with the age of the home. Where I live (in a City) we have both. The power lines to my community are overhead. In other parts of the city they are buried underground because of the height of tall buildings and that sort of thing.

You do ask a good question though. Why with all our technological advancement does power outages cause so much death? When it's cold it's got to because the grids are trying to do their best. The same for when it's real hot with brown outs. Extreme conditions of any form seem to be problematic for power failure. Why can't we "damage proof" the power lines? We can do space flights, but we can't figure out ways to protect our resources from natural occurences in weather is a very good question.