Re: Off Topic: U.S.A Blackouts (was Re: Web Browser for IIgs)

[Roy and/or Janet Miller <millers@inetnebr.com>]

Mark Cummings wrote:

> I wonder whether the weather and type of power lines has anything to do with
> it. I live in a tropical region of Australia, and most of the power lines in
> the older areas are above ground. Annual storms & cyclones are often the
> cause of power outages in the older areas (including mine) where lines are
> above ground and often get taken out by falling trees or lightning strikes.
> Last year after a cyclone we lost power in our suburb for 3.5 days where
> newer areas lost power for maybe an hour or not at all.
>
> Mark

You may well have part of the answer Mark. Down lines during snow, ice, and
thunder storms are often the problem. A few years ago, our fair city was hit
with 12 inches of wet snow (it was supposed to be a dusting) we lost power on
our street, built c. 1970, while the rest of the neighborhood (built in the mid
80's) had power. Only our street had above ground power lines.

As for Dr. Tom's suggestion about "trends", I think that this is one "trend"
where much of the rest of the country is avoiding a California action like the
Plague. It's just too bad the California government hasn't learned that the laws
of supply and demand can't be stopped by a state legislature.

Roy