Massive power outages in Houston: how can this happen? (Pasadena: power lines, insurance)

[behtypa]

A question to electricians.
Following a thread here about a power outage in Sugar Land this Monday, can someone explain me how local power systems are designed?

My understanding is that the power grid (i.e. in Sugar Land) is designed to re-supply the power from the other sources if there is an outage from one power line. Just like an internet works - the signal will find the way around the problems. It's a grid, a network, afterall.

So why does this happen (often) then? How could around 100 thousand ppl community sit with no power from 7PM to 1AM?

I do not believe that it is a poor transformers or poles at fault. My feeling is that it is a poorly designed power grid in the area and a single power source that is easy to cut.

Which means we have no grid. And it's just one source?

[Houston3]

There was 800,000 people with out power? When did this happen? I didn't know that there were that many people in Sugar Land.

[blkgiraffe]

Originally Posted by Houston3

There was 800,000 people with out power? When did this happen? I didn't know that there were that many people in Sugar Land.

Actually you had power outages in Pasadena, Third Ward, and other areas back in June.

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Originally Posted by behtypa

A question to electricians.
Following a thread here about a power outage in Sugar Land this Monday, can someone explain me how local power systems are designed?

My understanding is that the power grid (i.e. in Sugar Land) is designed to re-supply the power from the other sources if there is an outage from one power line. Just like an internet works - the signal will find the way around the problems. It's a grid, a network, afterall.

So why does this happen (often) then? How could 800 thousand ppl community sit with no power from 7PM to 1AM?

I do not believe that it is a poor transformers or poles at fault. My feeling is that it is a poorly designed power grid in the area and a single power source that is easy to cut.

Which means we have no grid. And it's just one source?

No matter what reasons people reply with, there is Mr. Murphy... 'ever heard of him and his law?

[EasilyAmused]

Pffft. 7Pm-1am. That would have been a treat after IKE. Try 15 days. Alicia we were without for 3 weeks.

[behtypa]

Originally Posted by Houston3

There was 800,000 people with out power? When did this happen? I didn't know that there were that many people in Sugar Land.

My bad. SL is actually 80,000.
Sugar Land, Texas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not sure how much more was affected. But the questions is rather about WHY this happens?? What $&^# has designed these grids so poorly at the first place?

[HoustonRonnie]

Originally Posted by behtypa

My bad. SL is actually 80,000.
Sugar Land, Texas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not sure how much more was affected. But the questions is rather about WHY this happens?? What $&^# has designed these grids so poorly at the first place?

Because Texas, by and large, doesn't bury it's power lines. That's why.

Ronnie

[behtypa]

Originally Posted by HoustonRonnie

Because Texas, buy and large, doesn't bury it's power lines. That's why.

Ronnie

I don't think this is the reason. Bury= VERY expensive and not necessary better protected.

It is not the problem with snapping power lines. It is rather a problem of designing and building a grid, when there is always another alternative source for you. If one line fails, there is another. If another fails there is one more.

A network.

IMO, the problem is the cost and that local energy barons don't want to do it.

[behtypa]

Originally Posted by EasilyAmused

Pffft. 7Pm-1am. That would have been a treat after IKE. Try 15 days. Alicia we were without for 3 weeks.

Dude, Ike is an abnormal disaster, an emergency. (although they become more frequent lately, LOL)

I am talking about a regular rain storm. How come the whole power network can not withstand this???

[crone]

It is because people in Texas will tolerate anything the business community tells them. That's why TXU got by with charging .17 per kWh when Ca. was paying .08.
When DH was with SBC, he frequently had meet with the staffs of various state PUCs. He'd come home laughing about them not even knowing what questions to ask. As a supporter of regulated monopolies at the time, he gave hints that they could not pick up on.
Must be why we also pay the highest homeowner insurance rates and title insurance rates.
I have heard that the high water table in Houston causes buried cable problems.
Buried cable does have higher up front cost, but over time, it equals out. Just look at what the utilities pay to trim trees each year.