Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you people act like losing your power for 2-12 hours is the end of the world? There are people in the world who live in mud huts and y’all are having a meltdown over not having your internet and AC for up to half a day 🙄

In 2010 people lost power for 3 days+ in February after a huge snowstorm. It was freezing inside the houses and impossible to leave because of the snow.

OMG I remember this! That storm was actually the impetus for our move to Southern California. We were done!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I came to this country from a European country 20 years ago, and was astonished to see visible power lines in the city and suburbs. Power outages never happen in my home city. I don't know where the transformers are, but they're not exposed to the elements at all.

The USA is the richest country in the world. It's interesting that its residents should still be dealing with exposed power lines. I understand that earthquake-prone areas can't bury their lines, but it doesn't make sense for the rest of the country.

I’m so tired of hearing from Europeans about how things are better.

You have a drier and likely cooler climate. Thunderstorms are about 4x more likely in the US overall and much more in the Southeast.

“ Each year approximately 75–200 thunderstorm hours occur over the southwestern, central, and eastern United States, with a peak over Florida (200–250 h). The activity over the majority of Europe ranges from 15 to 100 h, with peaks over Italy and mountains (Pyrenees, Alps, Carpathians, Dinaric Alps; 100– 150 h).”

You just made our point for us, bozo.
Europe is forward-thinking, even though their risk is lower on average, and the US has absolutely no excuse, given they're much wealthier and their risk is higher.

Anonymous wrote:
I came to this country from a European country 20 years ago, and was astonished to see visible power lines in the city and suburbs. Power outages never happen in my home city. I don't know where the transformers are, but they're not exposed to the elements at all.

The USA is the richest country in the world. It's interesting that its residents should still be dealing with exposed power lines. I understand that earthquake-prone areas can't bury their lines, but it doesn't make sense for the rest of the country.

I’m so tired of hearing from Europeans about how things are better.

You have a drier and likely cooler climate. Thunderstorms are about 4x more likely in the US overall and much more in the Southeast.

“ Each year approximately 75–200 thunderstorm hours occur over the southwestern, central, and eastern United States, with a peak over Florida (200–250 h). The activity over the majority of Europe ranges from 15 to 100 h, with peaks over Italy and mountains (Pyrenees, Alps, Carpathians, Dinaric Alps; 100– 150 h).”

Anonymous wrote:I would pay more to get my lines buried. It would look so much nicer, on top of the liability.

+1

I would pay more to get my lines buried. It would look so much nicer, on top of the liability.

Anonymous wrote:There are certain (and relatively few) problem areas that frequently have problems. Those areas are already getting underground lines. It's a case-by-case basis.

In Virginia, VEPCO indeed is doing targeted installation of underground lines, but only for the small number of segments which have the highest outage rates. So parts of two roads in our area - maybe 1-2 miles total - will be going underground in the next 6 months. Work already is underway on this project. These are heavily forested areas/roads, where frequent tree trimming has not been able to reduce storm-related outages.

For any *new* neighborhood/subdivision projects (nearly) anywhere in metro DC, the land developer really ought to be required to install all underground utilities.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I came to this country from a European country 20 years ago, and was astonished to see visible power lines in the city and suburbs. Power outages never happen in my home city. I don't know where the transformers are, but they're not exposed to the elements at all.

The USA is the richest country in the world. It's interesting that its residents should still be dealing with exposed power lines. I understand that earthquake-prone areas can't bury their lines, but it doesn't make sense for the rest of the country.

+100.

If you grew up in a place with buried power lines (like I did in Minnesota), it seems uncivilized to come to the DC area and see that perfectly nice neighborhoods still have above-ground power lines. And people just accept it, like it's normal. It's still a surprise to me. It looks so ugly.

Here's a brief anecdote: A few years ago, in Bethesda, we had a neighbor move in next door. They were from Germany and worked for the World Bank. They commented that the neighborhood reminded them of Mexico City, with the above-ground power lines.

PP you replied to. Exactly! I'm French. Same reaction.
And I'd like to note here, that there are many wonderful things about this area that I don't have in my home city: Sunday shopping, for one. Everything is closed on Sundays where I come from

[list]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I came to this country from a European country 20 years ago, and was astonished to see visible power lines in the city and suburbs. Power outages never happen in my home city. I don't know where the transformers are, but they're not exposed to the elements at all.

The USA is the richest country in the world. It's interesting that its residents should still be dealing with exposed power lines. I understand that earthquake-prone areas can't bury their lines, but it doesn't make sense for the rest of the country.

+100.

If you grew up in a place with buried power lines (like I did in Minnesota), it seems uncivilized to come to the DC area and see that perfectly nice neighborhoods still have above-ground power lines. And people just accept it, like it's normal. It's still a surprise to me. It looks so ugly.

Here's a brief anecdote: A few years ago, in Bethesda, we had a neighbor move in next door. They were from Germany and worked for the World Bank. They commented that the neighborhood reminded them of Mexico City, with the above-ground power lines.

+1

It’s shocking visually and far less reliable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I came to this country from a European country 20 years ago, and was astonished to see visible power lines in the city and suburbs. Power outages never happen in my home city. I don't know where the transformers are, but they're not exposed to the elements at all.

The USA is the richest country in the world. It's interesting that its residents should still be dealing with exposed power lines. I understand that earthquake-prone areas can't bury their lines, but it doesn't make sense for the rest of the country.

+100.

If you grew up in a place with buried power lines (like I did in Minnesota), it seems uncivilized to come to the DC area and see that perfectly nice neighborhoods still have above-ground power lines. And people just accept it, like it's normal. It's still a surprise to me. It looks so ugly.

Here's a brief anecdote: A few years ago, in Bethesda, we had a neighbor move in next door. They were from Germany and worked for the World Bank. They commented that the neighborhood reminded them of Mexico City, with the above-ground power lines.

Ok that’s hilarious!

I live in Silver Spring with buried power lines. One power outage in last 20 years, and it was for a few hours.

Anonymous wrote:Why do you people act like losing your power for 2-12 hours is the end of the world? There are people in the world who live in mud huts and y’all are having a meltdown over not having your internet and AC for up to half a day 🙄

In 2010 people lost power for 3 days+ in February after a huge snowstorm. It was freezing inside the houses and impossible to leave because of the snow.

Anonymous wrote:
I came to this country from a European country 20 years ago, and was astonished to see visible power lines in the city and suburbs. Power outages never happen in my home city. I don't know where the transformers are, but they're not exposed to the elements at all.

The USA is the richest country in the world. It's interesting that its residents should still be dealing with exposed power lines. I understand that earthquake-prone areas can't bury their lines, but it doesn't make sense for the rest of the country.

+100.

If you grew up in a place with buried power lines (like I did in Minnesota), it seems uncivilized to come to the DC area and see that perfectly nice neighborhoods still have above-ground power lines. And people just accept it, like it's normal. It's still a surprise to me. It looks so ugly.

Here's a brief anecdote: A few years ago, in Bethesda, we had a neighbor move in next door. They were from Germany and worked for the World Bank. They commented that the neighborhood reminded them of Mexico City, with the above-ground power lines.

Anonymous wrote:This should have happened decades ago. In the City Of Alexandria we have had over 100 outages in the last 35 years. It's total nonsense. People don't live like this. 3rd world living here.

Lived in the "3rd world" -- power worked fine.

This is a DMV thing.

This should have happened decades ago. In the City Of Alexandria we have had over 100 outages in the last 35 years. It's total nonsense. People don't live like this. 3rd world living here.

DC is in the process of burying power lines in some areas, at least in my NW neighborhood east of the park