What the 'kin 'ell is going on with all these power cuts?

[Swoop]

First the East Coast goes out, then Britain has a minor black out, today Italy wakes up and the whole country is out.  

And where's the black helecopters?

[Sixpence]

It's Booooooosh! ( I had to beat Eagler to it)

[popeye]

"Italy blamed France."

[Sixpence]

Originally posted by popeye
"Italy blamed France."

[strk]

I was wondering the same thing myself.  As far as I know there was no explanation for the massive (prehurricane) blackout on the east coast.  Now other countries are suffering blackouts.  weird

I wonder if al-queda or some other terror org isnt probing the worlds electricity grid stability to see if then can't exploit weaknesses there somehow.  

or maybe there is some tactical advantage to turning off the power in each location, for some purpose we will find out about only when it is too late.  

or maybe its just a concidence


strk

[Ping]

Terror.org has at least gotta be sitting up and thinking, HMMMM.
 Think of the chaos caused by a major blackout and the apparent ease at which we can seem to lose it.

[Thorns]

Or could it be our world is just asking for too much for what electrical infrastructure is in place.  My electrical useage now is a heck of a lot more than what I remember a few years ago......example: home office is on all the time(two computers, TV, two phone machines, fax, printer, scanner, lights, dehumidifier), security lights for rear perimeter of yard, and front of house lights are on all night plus motion detectors on corners for spot lights, a/c in house is on from the end of winter to the beginning of winter due to allergies, big garage door opener(only time I ever lift the garage door is when the power is out), and my wife has this uncontrollable habit of having every TV in the house on(4), and almost every ceiling fan and light on, plus her computer is on, because as she puts it, when doing the laundry(electric dryer), or the dishes(dishwasher w/electric heating element), she doesn't miss what she's watching(wouldn't want that!?), electric water heater, sump pump(lately it's working hard), outdoor pond waterfall, and of course POWER tools, and all the chargers.  Sheesh, I remember when my electrical bill was $35.00 mo., not $200.00 like it is now.  Now multiply this by all the other people on this grid....Ya think?      

Thorns

[rpm]

Yep, people are addicted to electricity. Since I moved into my new all-electric house (2300 sqft) my electric bill runs around $65 a month.Higher in the dead of winter and summer, but not by much. I keep the thermostat at 77*a/c and 67* heat and open the windows when it's between 80* and  60*. A window fan uses much less juice than a HVAC unit. I keep the lights off when not in the room, too.
You would be surprised how easy it is to get accustomed to conserving power.

[strk]

I saw some literature from a company a year or so ago that was sayng you could generate eneough power for an 3000 sq ft house with solar panels in most locations in the US for 10k.  WHen I build a house I am goign to look into it.  I heard that if you make excess power, the power copany HAS to buy it back from you.  

strk

[bigsky]

i saw a show about solar power a while back. it showed solar roof shingles you could do you roof with instead of installing those big ugly panels up there.

[Nilsen]

Swoop, you forgot that sweeden and denmark also had massive power failiures between the one i britain and the one in italy.

[Fishu]

and finns had part the area around Helsinki blacked out for two hours..
They were maintenancing some machine and when they started it, something failed and the systems weren't able to separate it from the system in time and tthat managed to shut down couple power stations.

[Staga]

In Helsinki power was up again in 30-45 minutes; I went out to buy cigarettes and candles and when I came back the lights were on... dam

btw it was pure human error: someone had left the switch in "grounded" position.