Do You Hate Your Utility Company? I hate mine!

[o2manyfish]

I live in Los Angeles and after the 94 Northridge Earthquake I bought an emergency generator.

In the past 23 years I had to use the generator 2x. In the past 6 months I have had to use it 8x.

The last 2 weeks of June, when the weather was over 100 degrees the power went out twice.

The first time I was home.

On June 26th, i was on vacation.....



We live and learn. New 22kw Generac autostart generator with 200amp auto transfer switch has been delivered. Now hopefully I can get it hooked up before LADWP fails again.

Dave B

 

[glb]

Yikes! You're smart to have a generator with such inconsistent power.

 

[tripdad]

That suck's. I hope you did not suffer any losses, I know you have some great tanks.

 

[o2manyfish]

Not sure why video didn't appear

 

[BlueCursor]

I don't have power outages or brown outs, but my power company sends me an email every month that compares my power usage to my neighbors. Naturally, mine is higher and they tell me I am wasteful. They have no clue about lighting, pumps and heater/chiller for a reef tank.

Also, my water company tells me that my water usage is high. Clearly they don't understand RO manufacturing and how much water it requires.

 

[tripdad]

Oh Crap!!! That really sucks, so sorry to hear about the losses. I can't imagine dealing with that. My sincere sympathies on the whole deal.

 

[Scarybo]

Sorry to hear about your losses Dave. We've been dealing with power losses in Glendale but not as many as you have.

 

[PSLReefer]

That's terrible! Can you sue for the losses I wonder?

 

[MarsRover]

I live in Los Angeles and after the 94 Northridge Earthquake I bought an emergency generator.

In the past 23 years I had to use the generator 2x. In the past 6 months I have had to use it 8x.

The last 2 weeks of June, when the weather was over 100 degrees the power went out twice.

The first time I was home.

On June 26th, i was on vacation.....



We live and learn. New 22kw Generac autostart generator with 200amp auto transfer switch has been delivered. Now hopefully I can get it hooked up before LADWP fails again.

Dave B

Where in LA do you live? I'm in Tujunga/san gabriel foothills and i've had solid power since i moved here (about 9 months ago). I'm on LADWP also.

I have dogs at home. I'd lose it if my house got that hot with my dogs home.

I'm sure the lawsuits are mounting.

I have been talking to my girlfriend recently about getting us setup with solar to avoid all this. I'm sick of relying on this mega companies who are never held accountable for their poor service.

 

[o2manyfish]

MarsRover,

I am in Encino. Right in the middle of the valley - So there is no excuse that having reliable electricity should be an issue.

Come on down and pick up some corals, I need to clear space in the frag tank (Free).


Dave B

 

[ThunderGoose]

Ouch. You have my sympathy. When I lived in LA we were having "rolling blackouts" I shudder to think about trying to have a reef tank with those.

But I also have to be *smug* - I have solar. My power bills (with three tanks, four if I have QT up and running) range from $0 in summer and max out at $50 in winter. So worth it!

 

[MarsRover]

@ThunderGoose What solar package/company did you go with? I'm looking into this for my place as well.

@o2manyfish I actually think the opposite logic from you, being in such a densely populated area, i'm sure the swings of energy demand can be dramatic and erratic! Think of the thousands of AC systems randomly shutting on and off as they maintain temps of homes. At some points, they are all switching at completely randomly relative to each other, and at different times. And then, as some points, many of them, by chance, switch on at once! Sudden heavy loads like that are hard for the power system. Additionally, the heavy loads and demands of high population areas put additional wear on the systems. Not to mention the increased heat envelope of the area = not good for electricity transmission equipment.

 

[EJReef]

I don't have power outages or brown outs, but my power company sends me an email every month that compares my power usage to my neighbors. Naturally, mine is higher and they tell me I am wasteful. They have no clue about lighting, pumps and heater/chiller for a reef tank.

Also, my water company tells me that my water usage is high. Clearly they don't understand RO manufacturing and how much water it requires.

Use two membranes in series if you're not already.

 

[kevensquint]

How much is electricity per kw/h over there? If it's pricy maybe get the neighbors and yourself to sign a petition for better service or reduced cost.

 

[EJReef]

How much is electricity per kw/h over there? If it's pricy maybe get the neighbors and yourself to sign a petition for better service or reduced cost.

They won't lower the cost.

 

[o2manyfish]

Kevensquint - Getting a Utility Company that services 10 million people to reduce costs in California, is the equivalent of taking that $500 frag you purchased that RTN'd the first time you turned on your lights and setting it on the dining room table, and talking to it everyday and hoping that one morning the frag will grow tissue and ask nicely to be put back in the tank

 

[ThunderGoose]

@ThunderGoose What solar package/company did you go with? I'm looking into this for my place as well.

I got a custom package from SunBug solar. The customer service was great and, since we bought our panels and live in Massachusetts we can sell our "green" energy credits to power companies (we produce green energy, they're required to produce a certain amount of power from green sources, it's kind of like carbon trading) so we get paid for our green credits quite a bit more than we spend on power. If you can afford the upfront costs it's a really good deal.

 

[dragon99]

That is tragic. Sorry for your loss.

My friendly utility decided to cut my power off a couple weeks ago with no notice. My bill is auto paid on a credit card, but apparently the exp date needed to be updated. Instead of calling, texting, emailing, or even dropping me a letter. They went ahead and shut my power off. I was fortunate not to lose anything since it wasn't a crazy hot day.