@jym626 If they are in bankruptcy, does that mean they can’t be sold? I knew they were in bankruptcy. It sounds too big and and not competent.
I have no clue, @Igloo. But they did file for Ch. 11 Bankrupcy https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/29/business/pge-bankruptcy-fires/index.html
And I looked further at the letter that came to DS. Its not a class action- its a requirement to submit a claim if they think PG&E owes him $ due to any loss due to the Nor Cal fires. That would be a no.
We’ve been discussion a whole house generator with automatic’s cut over, but haven’t moved forward with the project.
For now we have a portable generator which runs on gas. Take 5 gallons. H has set up a system whereby it’s pretty easy to patch the generator into the home panel. The hardest part for me is getting the thing to start if it’s been sitting a while.
We probably used 10 gallons of gas over the 40 hours we were without power. It kept 2 standing freezers, one top freezer fridge and our kitchen fridge running and all the food safe. It allowed for basic living - no running of other major appliances. We didn’t have to run the dishwasher during the outage - but if we did I’d have shut off the freezers for the duration of the DW cycle. Couldn’t run the 220 V dryer - but heck - it was hot, dry and windy (supposedly) so any laundry could be hung out to dry.
Cable and internet were out. We were able to hotspot thru cellular for basic info.
And finally, we just got my dad’s 1962 Magnavox console stereo refurbished. It has FANTASTIC radio reception. Both a.m. and f.m. So, come the next planned Armageddon we can invite the neighborhood to come sit around the Magnavox - with their dead and useless electronics nearby - and listen to our local radio station.
I asked DS about the solar panel payback and ideas like a battery/powerwall to store energy for personal use. He said he estimated it would take about 8 years to get the payback for the panels (but now can run some real numbers) but said the battery/powerwall sotirge thing was not cost effective for them.
sma makes an inverter that will supply limited power during a sunny day blackout. It works like a batter backup (SPS) at a much lower price point that say, a Tesla Powerwall.
Not sure which panels DS installed (but I dont think they are Tesla). That battery backup sounds ike a good thought- not sure which ones DS looked at when he said they werent cost effective. He had to deal with so many permits wiring upgrades, etc it was unreal. Would be a PITA if they had to do more.
Evidently Cal had to cancel some classes because their generation capabilities could not keep up. I hope it doesn’t get as bad as last year.
Anyone who is medically dependent on power, and can do so, should find friend, family who can take them in at this time. They should also reconsider staying in an area with such problems. The real estate market has very high yields do there are more affordable options than if you live in a low cost housing market.
Nursing homes should open their doors to those who need refuge.
We lost power with Sandy. For two weeks. Though we had essential services due to our generator, we packed my elderly and fragile mother off to my brother’s place in NYC. Not everyone has such privilege, however.
It would take a lot to get me move to an area with chronic issues like this and the hurricanes and flooding some areas have been getting
It’s a non issue I believe, in NorCal. 98% of power had already been restored. DS said the temperature dropped 18 degrees today, and now they are expecting rain.
Don’t CA towns have emergency centers with generators? I know it’s no fun camping out someplace during a power outage, but around here, there are emergency shelters in just about every town that can accommodate folks who need to have power for whatever reason.
Don’t CA towns have this??
In our state of HI, all our shelters provide is s roof and walls—no cots, no food, no water, no power. It doesn’t make the shelters very inviting for most folks and they try to secure other options If they can.
One should call and check before assuming what may or may not be available.
Nursing homes are often chronically understaffed and usually full, completely stretching the staff that are already overwhelmed with their current census. Where would all these people stay at the nursing home? Assuming there was ample room for additional people with medical needs, how would this be handled logistically, from liability issues to feeding these people, to finding and paying additional staff? And who would pay?
Sounds nice but not very practical in reality.
Nursing homes are For Profit organizations. Someone would have to reimburse them for additional staff and materials. They don’t have much room available besides recreation rooms, probably without adequate power sources for the emergency needs.
Bankruptcy does NOT mean that the company will be sold or disappear. It gives the company an opportunity to restructure its debt and keep operating.
Undergrounding is $$$$ and, in general, requires agreement by ALL homeowners to bear their portion of the costs. Guess how easy that is.
@thumper1 They do and they opened the shelters. The thing is the town or taxpayer had to bear the cost to staff them when the issue was caused by PG&E.
My point was that as incompetent as they are, they should not be given another chance. It would be better if someone else steps in.
The Tesla solar panels
classes resume again tomorrow (Monday). If they had 20/20 hindsight they wouldn’t have cancelled last Wednesday’s classes, since any shutdowns didn’t occur over there until late Wednesday. Dead week will probably be eaten up a bit by the missed classes again.
In my area of FL, we have real shelters, often at schools. Most people drive to a different area with friends or relatives or a hotel.
Tomorrow is “indigenous people’s day” (known in some areas still as Columbus Day). Some places will be closed tomorrow.
Columbus day has long been one of those holidays that people forget about unless they are surprised that some place is closed for it (bank or government office).
Yes it is a federal holiday. And a school holiday in some places. Both of my DIL’s have the day off tomorrow.