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-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
PG&E Cuts Off Power to Parts of California
2019-06-10
[HotAir] There have been a series of blackouts in northern California recently, but these don’t have anything to do with storms or equipment failure. Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has been intentionally, proactively shutting off the juice in areas where red flag warnings for potential wildfires have been posted. This has led to numerous complaints (mostly justified or at least understandable) from people losing service, particularly those who rely on electricity for home medical equipment. But the actions by PG&E are equally understandable. (ABC News]
Don't sue us again!
Pacific Gas & Electric cut power Saturday to about 1,600 customers in Northern California to reduce risk of wildfires amid windy, dry and warming weather conditions that raised the year’s first red flag warnings.

The utility said it began cutting power at 6 a.m. to portions of Napa, Solano and Yolo counties, an area northeast of the San Francisco Bay region. The company also announced in advance that it may have to cut power to 30,000 customers in Butte, Yuba, Nevada, El Dorado and Placer counties.

Conditions ripe for fire ‐ winds, low humidity, dry vegetation and heat ‐ were expected to last into Sunday. The National Weather Service said a station north of Sonoma reported gusts to 50 mph (80 kph) Saturday.

The public statement from PG&E focuses entirely on safety and making sure there aren’t any more massive fires being triggered by sparks from electrical equipment. That’s a smart move since it makes them look like they’re taking every reasonable step possible to help prevent such tragedies.
More at the link.
Posted by:Deacon Blues

#13  There was a time when one could fashion a fry pan or dutch oven from hubcaps. I suppose the parabolic dishes would do as well.

A solar distiller for drinking water is also handy.
Posted by: Skidmark   2019-06-10 20:36  

#12  Maybe those of y'all in hurricane land can give suggestions for long stretches of no electricity.

There's always the BBQ. Damaged wood framed houses provide plenty of firewood when the propane runs out.

The Cardboard Box Oven is good. It can also be used for dehydration preservation of meat and fish.

DISH and Hughes antennas torn down by the storm, lined with foil provide a good spot solar heat source for cooking, or just lighting your wood fire.

For kids, fishing and treasure hunts fill the internet lull.
Posted by: Skidmark   2019-06-10 20:10  

#11  Maybe those of y'all in hurricane land can give suggestions for long stretches of no electricity.

Electric oven? Doesn't work. Water boil alert? Get the copper kettle and some firewood? Here's where that solar charger for you PED in your boogie bag comes in. Those cooling towels are awesome; someone gets real hot take those shoes and socks off and put cooling towels in the armpits.

Whats the over/under on timeline before everyone outside of Caracas an urban region has their power cut 'for their own safetly'?
Posted by: swksvolFF   2019-06-10 15:51  

#10  I suppose Sacramento will cut power at the same time in solidarity with all Californians.

"Preppers be crazy"

-State shuts off power for at least 7 days-

"Preppers, how do we save our food?!"

Which raises a good question: how do those who cannot spend thousands on a generator and 7 days gasoline storage container and fuel keep the perishables from spoiling and grandma going down with the heat?
Posted by: swksvolFF   2019-06-10 15:33  

#9  Some of the mountainous terrain they cover would be almost impossible to install underground without blasting, tunneling and killing off the eco-nuts, Abu.
Posted by: Mullah Richard   2019-06-10 14:57  

#8  Nothing greener than everyone of those 1600 homes getting themselves a literal ton of backup batteries and a diesel generator.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles   2019-06-10 11:40  

#7  ..especially when the Greenies keep you from cutting the timber and removing the debris around the lines.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2019-06-10 11:14  

#6  They should have buried those power lines years ago. It might have been expensive but nothing like the settlements they've had to make as a result of some of these fires.
Posted by: Abu Uluque   2019-06-10 10:32  

#5  From a Greenie standpoint, this is good. Cheap, reliable power is evil. Did you know electricity was invented by a dead white man?
Posted by: SteveS   2019-06-10 09:23  

#4  For the greater GOOD!
Repeat after me,
For the greater GOOD!
Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839   2019-06-10 08:17  

#3  They'd probably misuse it anyway. Think of it as 'Earth Month'.
Posted by: Dron66046   2019-06-10 05:26  

#2  'Ash was raining down on me': Dramatic video footage shows hundreds of people fleeing Six Flags Magic Mountain as wildfires erupted near Southern California amusement park
Posted by: Skidmark   2019-06-10 04:50  

#1  Fact is, they do not have enough power still so just another reason for "brownouts"

Just like a third world country.
Our saving grace will be that the people with smart homes in silicon valley will be locked into their homes until the power and internet cuts on.
Posted by: newc   2019-06-10 02:31  

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