Comments on: West Seattle power outage: 11,000 homes, businesses affected at peak; ‘underground equipment’ blamed http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/west-seattle-power-outage-11000-affected West Seattle news, information, and discussion, updated multiple times daily, 24/7/365 Tue, 21 May 2013 08:17:36 +0200 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Jeff http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/west-seattle-power-outage-11000-affected#comment-928036 Jeff Sun, 11 Nov 2012 20:58:32 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129533#comment-928036 Most likely it is just old Gatewooder. A lot of these systems were installed in the 60s with an expected service life of 40ish years. Really we are just on borrowed time with a lot of our critical infrastructure. Most likely it is just old Gatewooder. A lot of these systems were installed in the 60s with an expected service life of 40ish years. Really we are just on borrowed time with a lot of our critical infrastructure.

]]> By: DJ Allyn http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/west-seattle-power-outage-11000-affected#comment-928028 DJ Allyn Sun, 11 Nov 2012 20:15:52 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129533#comment-928028 @Gatewooder: Contrary to common sense, underground cables are not as reliable as the overhead cables. They are subject to faster corrosion, vulnerable to floods and shifting ground. Even squirrels that get into the vaults can cause a power failure. Overhead cables are susceptible to wind and sometimes ice. But the cables themselves can handle the corrosion a lot better. @Gatewooder: Contrary to common sense, underground cables are not as reliable as the overhead cables. They are subject to faster corrosion, vulnerable to floods and shifting ground. Even squirrels that get into the vaults can cause a power failure.

Overhead cables are susceptible to wind and sometimes ice. But the cables themselves can handle the corrosion a lot better.

]]> By: zephyr http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/west-seattle-power-outage-11000-affected#comment-928021 zephyr Sun, 11 Nov 2012 19:32:18 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129533#comment-928021 Thanks, WSB and Jon. I did call the correct number. I did choose the "report an outage" option not "electrical emergency". I didn't have a downed powerline, etc., just the outage for the neighborhood. Looking back on it, I can see that would be an "emergency". I don't have online access during power failures, since I use a computer and not a smartphone. ~z Thanks, WSB and Jon. I did call the correct number. I did choose the “report an outage” option not “electrical emergency”. I didn’t have a downed powerline, etc., just the outage for the neighborhood. Looking back on it, I can see that would be an “emergency”. I don’t have online access during power failures, since I use a computer and not a smartphone. ~z

]]> By: Gatewooder http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/west-seattle-power-outage-11000-affected#comment-928013 Gatewooder Sun, 11 Nov 2012 18:42:02 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129533#comment-928013 I sure would like to know how an underground electrical cable failed, that is the most reliable way to route power. Moles? I sure would like to know how an underground electrical cable failed, that is the most reliable way to route power. Moles?

]]> By: Jon http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/west-seattle-power-outage-11000-affected#comment-928011 Jon Sun, 11 Nov 2012 18:38:00 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129533#comment-928011 Just wanted to confirm that the correct number to call is Seattle City Light's Outage Hotline (206-684-7400) and select the option for "electrical emergency" - otherwise, you end up with the message suggesting that you call back during business hours. Thanks to WSB for giving me this number as I was fumbling around in the dark when the outage first happened! Just wanted to confirm that the correct number to call is Seattle City Light’s Outage Hotline (206-684-7400) and select the option for “electrical emergency” – otherwise, you end up with the message suggesting that you call back during business hours. Thanks to WSB for giving me this number as I was fumbling around in the dark when the outage first happened!

]]> By: Gatewooder http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/west-seattle-power-outage-11000-affected#comment-928010 Gatewooder Sun, 11 Nov 2012 18:25:39 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129533#comment-928010 I called the regular City Light number and got through with no problems. It's an automated process, but it worked fine for me. The machine knew where I was calling from, and said that they already knew about my outage and they had people on the way. I called the regular City Light number and got through with no problems. It’s an automated process, but it worked fine for me. The machine knew where I was calling from, and said that they already knew about my outage and they had people on the way.

]]> By: WSB http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/west-seattle-power-outage-11000-affected#comment-928008 WSB Sun, 11 Nov 2012 17:50:48 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129533#comment-928008 This is all I have: http://www.seattle.gov/light/neighborhoods/nh4_outs.htm . Since it wasn't on the map (there is a lag usually), we called to report it too, since we were among the outage-ees. You don't get a live person - it asks you for a phone number if the billing number isn't the one you called from. . I have a media hotline that eventually will reach a live person but if I call them TOO early on in the process, they don't know anything yet - and before I had to dig up their number, they'd sent a short news release (and have been available online ever since to answer my followups). . TR This is all I have:
http://www.seattle.gov/light/neighborhoods/nh4_outs.htm
.
Since it wasn’t on the map (there is a lag usually), we called to report it too, since we were among the outage-ees. You don’t get a live person – it asks you for a phone number if the billing number isn’t the one you called from.
.
I have a media hotline that eventually will reach a live person but if I call them TOO early on in the process, they don’t know anything yet – and before I had to dig up their number, they’d sent a short news release (and have been available online ever since to answer my followups).
.
TR

]]> By: LAP http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/west-seattle-power-outage-11000-affected#comment-928004 LAP Sun, 11 Nov 2012 17:35:15 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129533#comment-928004 Ah...THAT's why the clock on the microwave was flashing! Must have been a short outage in the WWVillage area, though. Lights were on by 6:30 am. Ah…THAT’s why the clock on the microwave was flashing! Must have been a short outage in the WWVillage area, though. Lights were on by 6:30 am.

]]> By: WD http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/west-seattle-power-outage-11000-affected#comment-928003 WD Sun, 11 Nov 2012 17:34:14 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129533#comment-928003 As a small business owner close to the affected area, once again I must thank the West Seattle Blog for their amazing ability to be on top of events that could impact us. Thank you. You are golden! As a small business owner close to the affected area, once again I must thank the West Seattle Blog for their amazing ability to be on top of events that could impact us. Thank you. You are golden!

]]> By: zephyr http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/west-seattle-power-outage-11000-affected#comment-927998 zephyr Sun, 11 Nov 2012 17:20:57 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129533#comment-927998 Thanks Tracy for the reporting. I am in Gatewood and woke up immediately when the power went off around 4:15 am. I didn't have your number handy. I did locate (by headlamp) the City Light number and called them. It was very frustrating to go through their automated system to wind up with a msesage saying that their normal business hours are M-F and to call back then. !!! . Don't they have a 24 hour hotline to report outages? I looked out to see blocks and blocks of houses and businesses dark, including traffic signals. I almost called the non-emergency police number to ask them to pass it along. I decided that someone somewhere with tweeting/texting ability would reach you all or the proper folks eventually. But I still would have liked to connected with someone. . Does anyone know if there is a way to get through to City Light during such an event? ~z , Thanks Tracy for the reporting. I am in Gatewood and woke up immediately when the power went off around 4:15 am. I didn’t have your number handy. I did locate (by headlamp) the City Light number and called them. It was very frustrating to go through their automated system to wind up with a msesage saying that their normal business hours are M-F and to call back then. !!!
.
Don’t they have a 24 hour hotline to report outages? I looked out to see blocks and blocks of houses and businesses dark, including traffic signals. I almost called the non-emergency police number to ask them to pass it along. I decided that someone somewhere with tweeting/texting ability would reach you all or the proper folks eventually. But I still would have liked to connected with someone.
.
Does anyone know if there is a way to get through to City Light during such an event? ~z
,

]]> By: Bonnie http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/west-seattle-power-outage-11000-affected#comment-927997 Bonnie Sun, 11 Nov 2012 17:15:58 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129533#comment-927997 Power went out in Fauntlee Hills but I slept right through it. Power went out in Fauntlee Hills but I slept right through it.

]]> By: skwash http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/west-seattle-power-outage-11000-affected#comment-927989 skwash Sun, 11 Nov 2012 16:59:05 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129533#comment-927989 Sounds like Comcast is aware. I texted "OUT" to 266278 and received the following response: "There is currently a service outage in your area. We are working to resolve this matter as quickly as possible and apologize for any inconvenience." http://customer.comcast.com/help-and-support/cable-tv/outages-in-your-area Sounds like Comcast is aware. I texted “OUT” to 266278 and received the following response: “There is currently a service outage in your area. We are working to resolve this matter as quickly as possible and apologize for any inconvenience.”

http://customer.comcast.com/help-and-support/cable-tv/outages-in-your-area

]]> By: Moco Loco http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/west-seattle-power-outage-11000-affected#comment-927987 Moco Loco Sun, 11 Nov 2012 16:45:29 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129533#comment-927987 No wonder we heard the iPhone charger chimes wig out earlier. I thought is was Apple technology gone rogue. Down by Lowman Beach is on! No wonder we heard the iPhone charger chimes wig out earlier. I thought is was Apple technology gone rogue. Down by Lowman Beach is on!

]]> By: WSB http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/west-seattle-power-outage-11000-affected#comment-927986 WSB Sun, 11 Nov 2012 16:44:16 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129533#comment-927986 Be sure you call to report it. Sometimes a power outage will knock out their equipment but it'll need a reboot (or something like that) to get back online. Alternately, YOU might try rebooting (or something like that) - I have heard from people in the past who needed to "clear the modem" to get back on after an outage - it wasn't automatic ... TR Be sure you call to report it. Sometimes a power outage will knock out their equipment but it’ll need a reboot (or something like that) to get back online. Alternately, YOU might try rebooting (or something like that) – I have heard from people in the past who needed to “clear the modem” to get back on after an outage – it wasn’t automatic … TR

]]> By: Morgan http://westseattleblog.com/2012/11/west-seattle-power-outage-11000-affected#comment-927984 Morgan Sun, 11 Nov 2012 16:41:31 +0000 http://westseattleblog.com/?p=129533#comment-927984 My power is back on but my Comcast Internet is out too. Anyone know what's going on with that? My power is back on but my Comcast Internet is out too. Anyone know what’s going on with that?

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