Michigan Radio & TV Buzzboard

Ben Zonia wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 30, 2023 4:39 pm

Underground power lines have a useful life of about 30 years. After that, DTE, and probably many other power companies, go through several prolonged power failures in an area before they get authorization, planning, and money to fix it.

Actually, cable companies act even worse, since they are less essential. I told Comcast for years that they had a break in the center conductor of the underground cable before the drop line, which acts like a capacitor, and passed VHF High and UHF band, and blocked the 54-88 VHF Low Band. They tried to avoid fixing it with more amplification, but Channels 2-6 were still abysmal. After several years, they finally dug it up on both ends and snaked a new cable through.

Even worse is when the power companies leave an open hole and a big rainstorm comes up and floods the hole. That often results in another failure.

tapeisrolling wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 30, 2023 11:37 pm

I think a good indication that DTE never seems to fix the problem... I have lived in my house for over 40 years. The first 25 years we lost power when the wind blew. 4-10 hours later we were back up. Then a tree trimming crew spent months going down the length of the street wacking and hacking the trees that probable never seen any trimming since the subdivision was built in the 60's. Since then it takes a storm of some kind to cut the power, BUT when it does it is always for 3-4 days.
The best part is in that 40+ years with our power dropping on a whim, across the street has ONLY gone out 3 times. We all keep out super extension cords at the ready and I even have my neighbors garage code in case he's not home so I can plug in to save my freezer and fridg.
Just last Tues. I got a bid on a Generac.... It's looking worthwhile after the latest 4 day sweat lodge.