Understanding how power companies prepare, assess and execute during storms

[@kimflorell5991]

Why does the electric company do not do preventative tree maintenance along the grid on a on going basis

[@greall]

They do that here with the maintenance schedules posted online, in the newspapers, over the radio and mobile PA systems especially in rural areas. People will still complain about it so I jokingly say that they shouldn't do it and let the grid crash. It's 2024 and nobody wants to be inconvenienced... 😑

[@nesiehful]

The problem right here is that MANY MANY more people need to hear this . . . including public preparedness entities for hurricanes (regardless of category) and public messaging from utility companies. Some people were without power in Houston for up to 3 weeks during Hurricane Alicia (Cat 3) and Hurricane Ike (Cat 2). There's only about 12 mph difference between categories, so hurricane force is hurricane force to a stressed tree falling on a power line. So one really needs to be ready if the 3-week power outage is on the hurricane bingo card they get handed . . . even for a Cat 1. 🌀 But let's also get on the resiliency upgrades ASAP because the storms of the future Cat 4 and Cat 5 will be arriving sooner than we think 🤔

[@Rock-sg2go]

Thankfully it wasn’t a cat 4 or 5! You would be spending the next six months without power!

[@markpashia7067]

It does not help when the utility is debating with linemen from out of state on wages and housing. It also does not help when they cheap out on keeping trees back from the lines. For profit companies will not do the right thing unless someone is forcing them to do it. This was a failure of the PUC as well as Centerpoint.

[@marlawhite3682]

They did not prep and keep the trees trimed!!!!