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Shutting Off Power to Prevent Wildfires U.S.A.

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Not to reduce pollution or because of excessive demand, is it? Deliberate disconnection of power in cold weather to prevent wildfires apparently in CA.

 
GeologyJim

 
June 11, 2019 at 11:11 am

"Is this now to become “the new normal”? – – Shut off power to paying customers when “models show” something weather-ish might cause power surges, voltage spikes, transformer incidents, and potential fire initiation?



Could any of this ephemeral risk possibly be attributed to a bad mix of unreliable green electricity with sustainable fossil/nuclear-fueled base-load electricity? Or bad forest-management practices that restrict removal of tree/shrub fuel along transmission-line corridors?



California is leading the way toward 13th century lifestyles. Ain’t gonna turn out well".


More.....https://abcnews.go.com/US/pge-shut-power-california-residents-fire-season-underway/story?id=63573625


Z.





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  • 0
    AFAIK, the problem is not the lines falling, which would soon be detected by loss of supply if not by any more sophisticated means.

    The problems is overhead lines drooping or sagging as the wires stretch in high ambient temperatures and under heavy loading. Combined with lack of tree felling or pruning, the conductors touch the vegetation or get within arcing distance.

    Dry trees etc have a high resistance and only a limited current passes, but enough to start a fire. 0.1 amp at HV is still several kilowatts. Even 10ma can start a fire.


    The answer is of course to put the lines high enough up, and to cut back encroaching vegetation.
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  • 0
    AFAIK, the problem is not the lines falling, which would soon be detected by loss of supply if not by any more sophisticated means.

    The problems is overhead lines drooping or sagging as the wires stretch in high ambient temperatures and under heavy loading. Combined with lack of tree felling or pruning, the conductors touch the vegetation or get within arcing distance.

    Dry trees etc have a high resistance and only a limited current passes, but enough to start a fire. 0.1 amp at HV is still several kilowatts. Even 10ma can start a fire.


    The answer is of course to put the lines high enough up, and to cut back encroaching vegetation.
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