With the tree trimming and wire running that's been happening along our blacktop and gravel roads, it came as no surprise that I got an email on Wednesday from the electric company.
The title was: Planned power outage in your area.
A planned power outage is always better than an unplanned power outage.
To keep you informed about changes that affect your service, we wanted to let you know about a planned power outage scheduled for 02/06/26 at approximately 1:00 p.m. lasting approximately 1 HOUR. The outage is necessary for safety completing emergency maintenance and could be rescheduled due to weather or other emergencies.
It included our specific address. I wasn't sure if this concerned the tree trimming with a man lift that Trimmer Steve had spoken about. Or if it was about the new transformer Farmer H said they had put down by Mailbox Row. I could imagine cutting the power for a man working along live electric lines with a saw. And also to activate a new transformer. I could understand both processes taking about an hour.
I set about preparing. To make sure I didn't want to leave for town during that hour, because the garage door runs on electricity. To take care of my bathroom needs while I still had flushing capability. To have water in case I got thirsty, because the well runs on electricity. To have my innernetting at a stopping place, because HIPPIE's battery is going bad, and only lasts to about 40% until HIPPIE goes to black screen, and comes back upon plug-in with another black screen suggesting to replace the battery. To perhaps plan my daily 30-minute nap at this time, so I could stay warm under the covers, since the heat would be off.
I kept an eye on HIPPIE's clock. At 12:53, the furnace stopped blowing, the lights went off, and I shut down HIPPIE. I had other things I could do in my bright kitchen, like adding up Farmer H's expenditures for December and January, to write up a bill for The Pony for Bargain House expenses. Fill out the tax assessment forms that have to be returned by March 1 or get a monetary penalty. Sort through the forms we've received for tax purposes, to see if anything is missing.
I chose the assessment forms, them being the easiest.
WHAT'S THIS???
The power came back on! It had been off less than five minutes! What in the Not-Heaven? I guess that's a good thing. But maybe it was just preliminary. Maybe it would be going off again. No rush to fire up HIPPIE just yet.
I looked over the assessment forms to see what changes might be needed. That will require Farmer H's input. He might have bought more safes or equipment for his business during 2025. And we might need to change the trailer information due to the unfortunate demise of his old trailer, and the purchase of his new old trailer. I went to check the front yard. Nothing.
It must have been the activation of the new transformer that necessitated the planned outage. Seems like everything went okay. By 1:30, with no flicking or outage, I started HIPPIE again.
That was almost a non-event.
10 comments:
Interesting that this work was just done in your area. We had 2 city electrician trucks in our alley with a lift. We finally figured out they were removing the transformers, one on the post in our back yard and the other one, a bit further down. Last summer they removed the power line from the pole to the house as it was installed underground. We also gained one of those huge green "boxes" that house various cables etc. on the corner of our driveway. And no power loss yesterday, so I assume the transformer had become a moot point when the other work was done last summer.
I thought they might be trimming tree branches out of the power lines, as this would be the best time to see, without the leaves, but I guess I was wrong.
We are relieved to no longer have that power line hanging from the pole to our house as it was a bit of a pain to try to avoid when cleaning the gutters or any other activity, as it did hang quite low from the ground. We had to have it disconnected, temporality, after soon moving here, to have a tree removed and another one trimmed, which they do, no charge and then
reconnected it when done.
When we lived in the metro, we had a transformer near us, blow up. Turned out an unfortunate squirrel got his wet tail in the wrong place somehow. Pretty sure he didn't know what hit him. I am more relieved now, when I think of the noise that thing made when it blew, to have these transformers removed. Tax dollars at work. Ranee
Rae,
I think they started this trimming in December, in that unseasonably warm time after our initial snow. They do preventative maintenance year round. We just don't know when it's our turn. Most of our outages are from limbs on the lines.
Farmer H said we needed a bigger transformer, for the number of houses out here. I know nothing about how it works. Our electric line to the Mansion goes underground from a pole in the front yard that holds our dusk-to-dawn light. They haven't had the man lift out here yet to trim in that area along Shackytown Boulevard.
It's nice when work goes a lot faster than anticipated, like a couple of years ago we had a power outage from trucks crashing into poles somewhere and they said "power could be back by 11pm" and then it came back on at 8pm.
P.S. get HIPPIE a new battery!
River,
Yes, I'm glad they overestimate the time, because then I'm happen that it was restored quicker, rather than angry that it took longer!
River P.S.
The Pony says it would cost almost as much as a laptop, to have a new battery put in. And I already have the new laptop The Pony got me a couple Christmases ago. So I'll have to switch over. Especially before tax time, because my Windows is no longer supported by TurboTax. Hopefully, The Pony can transfer all my files to the new one.
Switch over today, bite the bullet, get it done, get used to the new one before Tax time.
River,
Yes, I need to get used to it. We didn't have time today, what with making a batch of Chex Mix, and getting our Super Bowl feast ready.
A non-event is the best kind of event.
Kathy,
Most definitely!
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