irate customers

[kooman]

with the large outage and the record heat out east, it has me thinking of some of the irate customers during outages that we have had in the past. I couldnt imagine what the people are going through this week with all the restoration efforts going on. Anyone have any good stories of pissed off customers that they have ran into during any of the storm jobs in the past, or have most people been glad to see you?

[Pootnaigle]

Ummmmmmmmm Its been my experience that the only irate customers are found during a minor outage that merely inconveinanced them for a few hours. After a massive outage lasting several days they are really happy to see us because then they know the power company hasnt forgotten them and something will finally happen.

[reppy007]

Sure,theres been too many to remember,but I seem to remember the everyday irate customers more.After a major storm I have seen this....after restoring power to a customer,his neighbors across the street or down the street will always walk up and let you know that they too are with-out lights,Ive seen guys tell them that they,or we are headed to another location first...the customer might have been without power for some time now....so rightfully he will be angry,because the way he sees it,you are already there,and he too has a wife and kids that are miserable.....sooner or later this becomes widespread,they finally figure out that you are being told who to get on first....you know the routine,friends first......lots of times after the circuits,large business,schools,hospitals,police,water facilities,ect are on.The people that have influence in your area will be next,the ones with money...they cry louder than the rest .At least its done like that here,the company never admits it and they cant admit it.....Another situation might be weeks later,lets say 2 weeks after the storm....you may be getting all kinds of calls now,even from the people that have power,calls like a temp disconnect or a lockband removal.....If things are done fair,you should go to the customers still without power,but that doesnt always happen...but when it is done fair and you go to the guy that has been waiting for the penny whinny order like the lockband removal or disconnect,they are irate,,when you explain that you were helping a customer that has been with-out for two weeks,he doesnt,and does not want to understand..that happens on any large storm.........a few years back my mother-in-laws lights went out during a hurricane,the company said it would take two weeks, it was only a span of # 4 primary down,To put it shortly I got her lights back on,after a little rigging,a energized circuit was just two spans away........but a day or two after her neighbors across the street noticed that she had lights.Well they told a contractor about this and the contractor asked me if Igot the lights back on,I simply told them that I didnt,and didnt know anything about powerlines..ohh well.