Windstorm Downs 50 Power Poles In Bullhead City

[okfine]

Crazy weather and extreme temperature. Power poles snapped like toothpicks.
Major traffic backups as the signal lights are not working.
Finding ice is another issue as people have to drive looking in nearby towns for it.
24 to 48 hours for power to be restored.

8,000 power customers in Bullhead City still without power, classes canceled

The Bullhead City School District announced it has canceled pre-K through eighth-grade classes for Tuesday because of the storms.

www.azfamily.com

 

[okfine]

Repairing/replacing 50 poles in 1-2 days? I wouldn't think so unless many other crews are brought in.

 

[EvilCat Breath]

Got relatives down there. It has been horrible.

 

[okfine]

Got relatives down there. It has been horrible.

My daughter just told me the power was re-routed and is back on... for now. It's been off here and there for the last month.

 

[EvilCat Breath]

No one has said what's going on in Laughlin with the casinos right on the river. I haven't asked.

 

[okfine]

No one has said what's going on in Laughlin with the casinos right on the river. I haven't asked.

The news coverage really wanes like it might scare the tourist dollars away.

 

[Anathema]

For those discussing outage times…

The first step would be isolating the damaged area, then back-feeding as much of the affected area as possible from ther feeds (several hours minimum), then repairing the damaged area, then returning the curcuit(s) to their normal configuration. 40-5 poles is probably a 3-4 day ordeal with multiple crews. Probably at least another day to rehang the wire.

- New England electric utility employee

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

One must wonder why in a country that is so prone to tornados and major wind events we continue to build our infrastructure above ground.

 

[Concerned American]

Finding ice is another issue as people have to drive looking in nearby towns for it.

Kind of tough to drive to nearby towns with no way to charge your EV isn't it?

 

[Anathema]

One must wonder why in a country that is so prone to tornados and major wind events we continue to build our infrastructure above ground

You want an actual answer, from someone who deals with electric utility design?…

The cost of underground (UG) line construction is at least 4 times that of overhead (OH) line construction and sometimes as much as seven to ten times the cost. OH construction times are far quicker in most cases as well. While UG lines generally have less outages, the time to repair them is generally far longer as it takes longer to determine where the outage is, there are often far less options to back feed areas, and repairs are more complex.

That’s why most utility construction remains OH and likely will for the foreseeable future. Especially in rural areas and among smaller utility companies.

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

One must wonder why in a country that is so prone to tornados and major wind events we continue to build our infrastructure above ground.

Because it's more expensive.
All our lines are underground in my area but it's mainly for esthetic reasons.

 

[whitehall]

Finding ice? Why? Water is important but residents of Arizona lived for thousands of years without ever seeing ice.

 

[DigitalDrifter]

So is this the same weather pattern that has been hitting Las Vegas?

 

[Concerned American]

So is this the same weather pattern that has been hitting Las Vegas?

Because you should expect lower temps in the middle of the Mojave desert during Aug/Sept?

 

[Muhammed]

One must wonder why in a country that is so prone to tornados and major wind events we continue to build our infrastructure above ground.

It's a population control thing and jobs thing.

If we didn't line our streets with utility poles it could put paramedics, policemen, doctors and nurses out of work.

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

You want an actual answer, from someone who deals with electric utility design?…

The cost of underground (UG) line construction is at least 4 times that of overhead (OH) line construction and sometimes as much as seven to ten times the cost. OH construction times are far quicker in most cases as well. While UG lines generally have less outages, the time to repair them is generally far longer as it takes longer to determine where the outage is, there are often far less options to back feed areas, and repairs are more complex.

That’s why most utility construction remains OH and likely will for the foreseeable future. Especially in rural areas and among smaller utility companies.

I have no doubt it costs more money, but it may be a better investment in the long run. Maybe not everywhere, but in some places more prone to issues like this.

 

[MinTrut]

You want an actual answer, from someone who deals with electric utility design?…

The cost of underground (UG) line construction is at least 4 times that of overhead (OH) line construction and sometimes as much as seven to ten times the cost. OH construction times are far quicker in most cases as well. While UG lines generally have less outages, the time to repair them is generally far longer as it takes longer to determine where the outage is, there are often far less options to back feed areas, and repairs are more complex.

That’s why most utility construction remains OH and likely will for the foreseeable future. Especially in rural areas and among smaller utility companies.

Thank you; bolded part of particular importance.

 

[DigitalDrifter]

I was just doing some checking, and right now it's 112 degrees in Bullhead City. Can you imagine not having any power in temps like that?

 

[Concerned American]

I was just doing some checking, and right now it's 112 degrees in Bullhead City. Can you imagine not having any power in temps like that?

For the young, reasonably healthy, it is a piece of cake. For the elderly or invalid it can be deadly.

 

[EvilCat Breath]

I was just doing some checking, and right now it's 112 degrees in Bullhead City. Can you imagine not having any power in temps like that?

I used to live close to there. I knew people with no ac. It would be too brutal for me. It would get so hot, it felt like your eyeballs were boiling.