Utility executives say they called in extra crews which worked long shifts, but progress proved painfully slow. More aggressive tree trimming has been suggested as a way to prevent such widespread outages, but Mike Palmer with Empire District Electric of Joplin says that wouldn't have helped much. Palmer and other executives say heavy ice brought the lines down. He says his engineers calculated that the ice added up to 3,000 pounds of weight on utility poles, which would be like parking a full-size Chevrolet Suburban on each pole. The executives also point out that any increase in preventative measures would drive up electric bills. They say that must be balanced against the desire to prepare for such an unlikely winter storm.
This blog features observations from Randy Turner, a former teacher, newspaper reporter and editor. Send news items or comments to rturner229@hotmail.com
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Utility officials: Not much can be done about ice storms
Officials with utility companies are telling Missouri lawmakers any changes to prevent the recurrence of the power outages during the recent ice storm will bring sharp increases to customers' bills, according to a Missourinet article:
They say that preventive measures would've driven up the price of utility bills. Well, they say they are going to make customers pay the cost of repairs in a future rate case. What's the difference?
ReplyDeleteSeems to me that the only difference is thousands of people were forced to leave their homes for days. Oh, and a few people died because they tried to find other ways to heat their homes. Perhaps if Empire didn't pay the biggest dividend in the country - 5.2 percent - they could afford to trim some trees without raising rates.
Well, thankfully “global warming” should make the threat of another ice storm obsolete.
ReplyDeleteGiven the logic they're using, I figure its only a matter of time till they tell us its our fault for being too dependent on electricity.
ReplyDeleteThe city, county and state should incentivize burying all utility hardware.
ReplyDeleteYeah, great idea, they need our tax dollars in addition to our utility bills.
ReplyDeleteso how is it that they can prevent the freezing rain?
ReplyDeleteThey can't prevent freezing range or outages but the Public Service Commission could require utilities to pay less to shareholders and spend more on preventive maintenance. Trimmed trees won't fall on lines.
ReplyDeleteSure we can stop the freezing rain. If there is one thing that Al Gore has taught us it is that humans can make the world hotter or colder at will. So, if we are concerned about freezing rain we can require cars to have lower gas milage so as to create more greenhouse gases and heat up the planet enough to prevent Missouri from getting too cold.
ReplyDeleteWe have a study about underground lines on website----please take a look---
ReplyDeleteThe Main Reasons I am running for Mayor are:
1.To get Rail Passenger Service through southwest Missouri. A Train Station close to the downtown area could bring some real retail to the downtown area.
2.The second Industrial Park which the City of Springfield, City Utilities, and the Chamber of Commerce have spent several million dollars on infrastructure sets pretty well empty. By changing the name and concept we can get some REAL GOOD PAYING JOBS AND COMPANIES into Springfield.
3. The Springfield Audit is due out this summer. Any issues you have please email
them to moaudit@auditor.mo.gov or call their office to speak to Donna Christian, audit manager at 1-800-347-8597 --- Missouri State Auditor's Office. I strongly believe that the City should work in a positive way to reap the most benefits possible from the audit process for the citizens.
4.We need a better plan for the Ice Storm and other possible Disasters.
Other Issues include:
Time for Passenger Rail Service
In 1990 I started an effort to get Passenger Rail Service to southwest Missouri and across the state. During my time at (School) College of the Ozarks they helped some on the effort. After graduation I worked on several attempts to place it on the state ballot. People support the effort all across the state but it is impossible to put an issue on the state ballot unless you have over $100,000 to spend. After 17 years I have 15 boxes of contacts and names of people who want such service. So I am running for Mayor of Springfield and people can find out more about the rail issue by going to www.reedforcouncil.com
MODOT announced last summer that they want such service to help with traffic relief on I-44. They are also lobbying the legislature at this time for help with funding. Such service is wanted and would benefit the downtowns of St. Louis, Rolla, Lebanon, Springfield, and maybe Branson. People all across the state want it but we have no organized lobbying group for such rail service. It is critical people speak out now. Write letters to your local newspapers call your representatives and yell from the tallest mountain!
Steven Reed
1441 S. Estate Ave.
Springfield, MO
417-368-1481
The City should have had the Alice Pittman School and any others that were up and running the whole time---open to SENIORS. Why was the Mayor talking every day at the Emergency Management News Conferences about tree limbs being removed---while people were still in the cold and out of food. On the average of a $1,000 loss by each family times the 150,000 people in Springfield comes to 150 Million lost by the people and still all we are worried about is paying FEMA 22 Million to haul off a few limbs!
If we had a plan for this kind of Ice Storm then I would hate to see what kind of plan we have for a terrorist attack. People can learn more by going to www.reedforcouncil.com
People can contribute up to $50 and checks are being accepted made out to:
Reed for Mayor
1441 S. Estate Avenue
Springfield, MO 65804
Please see other Issues across this website and ask your family, friends, neighbors, and others to take a look at it!
Please send Your Concerns and Ideas as Soon as Possible!
TO stevenlloydreed@hotmail.com
To "running for mayor"...What the Heck!What does this post have to do with the topic? I see you mentioned the a brief comment about ice storm cleanup...
ReplyDelete