It is more like “We may turn off your power, or we may not, we’re not telling.” Having to announce that on the radio is an exercise in sounding interesting telling people PG&E has no idea who is going to lose power or for how long.
CA: Hey, let’s jack up gasoline taxes to push people into buying electric vehicles. Then shut off the power for days at a time. No wonder people are leaving.
PG&E is having some optics issuees. Their new CEO, Bill Johnson, receives an annual salary of $2.5 million, which is double that of his predecessor Geisha Williams.
After 63 hours of no power 2 weeks ago 24 hours yesterday and a dark weekend on the way I sure wish We would have added a whole house Generator to the remodel. Generators are more in demand than Pre- Jan 1 2000 price gouging and long waits for those of Us that did not Prep well. My Pop got a Bid of 17k to 25k from GENRAC to be installed in early 2020.
Amazing how businesses sit there an amass profits, but as soon as they get caught doing something wrong – bankruptcy! Capitalism at its finest. Responsibility is just too expensive…
Oldcoal nailed this one with the deregulation of a public utility keeps on biting them in the wallet….
….first they file for billion’$ in lawsuit$ for not cutting power and causing fires…. so the power company cut off power to prevent fires….another self inflicted wound.
PG&E has about the worst record of any utility in the US for failing to maintain equipment, violating Right of Way terms and conditions, and well, basically operating outside the law, and getting away with it. The shutdowns are purely the result of PG&E, NOT fulfilling the terms of their grants.
Which, railroads have become oil and gas energy companies because instead of investing in maintenance and upgrading rail lines and equipment, they took the profit from the mineral estate they also acquired in the “railroad grants” many years ago. We could have had high speed rail, freight and passenger service, decades ago if the companies had invested in progress, instead of mineral production.
No pity for California idiots. You set electric rates extremely low by government decree, you sue the utility into bankruptcy, so when they have to kill power to protect you because you’re living in a tinderbox, what did you expect?? Developers should be brought up on charges for building homes on hillsides in an area that is known for fires. What a nanny state, your middle class has exited the building and now your population is poor or extremely wealthy.
My CA friends who live in the zone have already begun to adapt by keeping their phones charged more often, buying wind up radios and lights (did you know that some of those also put power into a USB port so you can wind your phone?), and of course actually working out what needs to stay in their “you have 30 minutes to leave” kit, since the fires are all getting started anyway!
braindead Premium Member over 4 years ago
Wottsa big deal?
It costs money to inspect power lines, not to mention maintain them.
Spending money needlessly like that could reduce profits — and what’s even worse, it could lessen executives’ total compensation.
.
We need to keep stuff in the proper perspective here.
wiatr over 4 years ago
It happens once in a while, usually during the dark of the moon, but I agree with (errrgh) Ms Benson on this one.
Plumb.Bob Premium Member over 4 years ago
It is more like “We may turn off your power, or we may not, we’re not telling.” Having to announce that on the radio is an exercise in sounding interesting telling people PG&E has no idea who is going to lose power or for how long.
Zev over 4 years ago
Enron Redux.
Zebrastripes over 4 years ago
Filed for bankruptcy ….slimeballs!
Durak Premium Member over 4 years ago
Huh. Fixing the power lines. How much is that going to cost.
Too bad there isn’t another way, some, ALTERNATIVE way, perhaps, for us to generate and deliver energy to people’s homes?
This isn’t 1919. We don’t need the centralized grid any more. If the powerlines are unsafe, let’s replace them with something safer. And cleaner.
Rather than fix an antiquated, out of date, costly, expensive system.
guyjen2004 Premium Member over 4 years ago
CA: Hey, let’s jack up gasoline taxes to push people into buying electric vehicles. Then shut off the power for days at a time. No wonder people are leaving.
kilioopu over 4 years ago
PG&E is having some optics issuees. Their new CEO, Bill Johnson, receives an annual salary of $2.5 million, which is double that of his predecessor Geisha Williams.
Alberta Oil Premium Member over 4 years ago
Hmm.. 10 years to undo the damage the trump has created seems a reasonable guess.
moderateisntleft over 4 years ago
Come on Lisa, mushrooms like you thrive on the darkness……
Ammo is on a break Premium Member over 4 years ago
After 63 hours of no power 2 weeks ago 24 hours yesterday and a dark weekend on the way I sure wish We would have added a whole house Generator to the remodel. Generators are more in demand than Pre- Jan 1 2000 price gouging and long waits for those of Us that did not Prep well. My Pop got a Bid of 17k to 25k from GENRAC to be installed in early 2020.
DeepState over 4 years ago
Amazing how businesses sit there an amass profits, but as soon as they get caught doing something wrong – bankruptcy! Capitalism at its finest. Responsibility is just too expensive…
gnome over 4 years ago
Oldcoal nailed this one with the deregulation of a public utility keeps on biting them in the wallet….
….first they file for billion’$ in lawsuit$ for not cutting power and causing fires…. so the power company cut off power to prevent fires….another self inflicted wound.
Dtroutma over 4 years ago
PG&E has about the worst record of any utility in the US for failing to maintain equipment, violating Right of Way terms and conditions, and well, basically operating outside the law, and getting away with it. The shutdowns are purely the result of PG&E, NOT fulfilling the terms of their grants.
Which, railroads have become oil and gas energy companies because instead of investing in maintenance and upgrading rail lines and equipment, they took the profit from the mineral estate they also acquired in the “railroad grants” many years ago. We could have had high speed rail, freight and passenger service, decades ago if the companies had invested in progress, instead of mineral production.
BeniHanna6 Premium Member over 4 years ago
No pity for California idiots. You set electric rates extremely low by government decree, you sue the utility into bankruptcy, so when they have to kill power to protect you because you’re living in a tinderbox, what did you expect?? Developers should be brought up on charges for building homes on hillsides in an area that is known for fires. What a nanny state, your middle class has exited the building and now your population is poor or extremely wealthy.
Frankfreak over 4 years ago
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/18/business/energy-environment/pge-blackout-california.html
Iwa Iniki over 4 years ago
California during fire season, which has become all year long.
Concretionist over 4 years ago
My CA friends who live in the zone have already begun to adapt by keeping their phones charged more often, buying wind up radios and lights (did you know that some of those also put power into a USB port so you can wind your phone?), and of course actually working out what needs to stay in their “you have 30 minutes to leave” kit, since the fires are all getting started anyway!