Huge storm hits Pacific Northwest

[Hurricane Harry]

Over 71 feeders out at our utlitity alone, at least 1 million without power. Trees are down everywhere, just like a hurricane, got to go to work, see ya.:)

[linemanswife]

Why then is the hall saying everything its fine no guys are needed?
My hubby is trying to go but is getting the run around.

[loodvig]

3 Dead As Storm Batters Northwest
Friday, December 15, 2006 2:13 PM EST
The Associated Press


SEATTLE (AP) — About 1.5 million homes and businesses in Washington and Oregon had no power early Friday after howling windstorms and heavy rains caused at least three deaths, closed two major bridges and prompted flooding.

One of the concourses at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport was without electricity, and an airport spokesman said some flights were canceled.

[mrnick]

Damn, it's not very often that the Pacific Northwest gets power outages that you hear about! Hope you guys and gals up there stay safe!

[racinsprintz10]

We are heading out tomorrow morning with Par out of Southern California, must be a doozy.

[Hurricane Harry]

Seattle area down to about 100,000 outages. The outlying territories owned by PSE are still about 600,000 out. There will be customers out for days. Temps tonight in the 20's and 30's, thats cold by western washington standards.

[co lineman]

how far away are they sending crews? Sturgeon crews just got back from IL around the decatur area working the storm they got there a couple weeks ago..Be safe....

[racinsprintz10]

What was your opinion of Ameren, just out of curiosity.

[co lineman]

Ameren took pretty good care of us while we were there but it sounds like they have the power companies there have changed a lot since Ameren took over...

[woodwalker66]

Company I worked for sended 8 crews down,
Talked to the fellows and they said, that Ameran
was pretty well organized on the Illinois side of river.
Felt that they where treated pretty well with rooms and food.

Also this was first time for some of the apprentices on a Ice storm,
They came back feeling good about theirselfs, in helping out.

[racinsprintz10]

good deal, I am originally from that area and Ameren took over there right as I was topping out. Illinois Power seems to have changed quite a bit since the takeover and I got so sick of the "we're not sure if we have any work" line every week. I left right when I topped out and havent been back yet.

[2ndGenHopeful]

I have heard rumors from inside Ameren that if the Illinois legislature approves a rate freeze continuation that there will be layoffs. There was also a memo that went out a couple of weeks ago that Ameren CIPS is under a hiring freeze. Don't know how Ameren IP is affected by all of this, though.

[2ndGenHopeful]

I have posted a link to a lengthy newspaper article regarding Ameren and the power outages experienced this year on the Politics & BS page for those of you interested.

I hope someone will do something similar about the big storm in the Pacific Northwest and the aftermath.

[PA BEN]

Here in the City of Port Angeles we lost 5 of our 7 substations and the two stations left had feeders down. Then we lost our 69kv line next. What a storm. 65 to 70 mph winds. 15 broken poles. All this from midnight to 4:00 am. A lot of work for 7 lineman, two apprentices, two grunts