Here’s the comment on my earlier posts (here and here) about Progress Energy:
I live in the north end of the county and I am underwhelmed by Progress Energy’s response to this snow. It is fine to talk about being self-reliant, taking personal responsibility, and preparing for events. I do have a secondary heat source and I collected water (no city water out in the country – no power – no water) to take care of 6 adults and a couple of horses for 3 days. After three days, water is a real concern. There are only so many containers and so much storage space!
We were very lucky that with this snow the temperatures remained very mild. My power went out on Friday afternoon and was restored Monday afternoon. This snow as not a major disaster. In fact, it was fairly routine winter weather although WNC no longer sees such a deep snow on a regular basis as it did in the 1950’s, 1960’s, and even through the early 1970’s. Progress Energy had a great committee meeting on how to set up a phone line. The thought and effort might have been better invested in equipment and people who actually DO something. I do not fault the people who restore the power. I do, however, have a dim view of Progress Energy’s corporate competence.
Take a moment to imagine a genuinely significant event covering two or three southeastern states, extrapolate that situation and guess how long it will be before your power is restored. God forbid the entire east coast should be hit by severe weather as happened in 1993. CP&L had power restored to my community on day 7 of the 1993 blizzard. Much better service – in my opinion.
5 Comments
Wow. I must be the only 65 year old woman with a couple of bum joints, an 88 year old mother to care for and three older neighbors brought into my home because they have no secondary heat source. Not to mention the livestock. Guess I’m soft and missing the TV and COMPUTER – just not with it like these other very superior folk. Must be my age that causes me to have these unreasonable expectations of better performance from the power company. Not talking about the linemen – they just work for a living like I do.
BTW, "Been There", even with my banged up joints and age, I expect I could face you off with hand milking cows, hauling water, and splitting wood. Silly me, I thought I WAS taking care of myself. I do, however, have things to do besides blow up my phony self reliance balloon and think myself quite the thing because I survived. "Been There" my foot – doesn’t sound like it!
I think Progress Energy did a pretty good job in such a huge snow storm. It’s Mother Nature, not a lot can be done in an area with so many trees and mountains. They have a HUGE job, and I think they did pretty well in spite of all the obstacles they faced. No worries from us about the electric company.
Keep fishing Ash, your bound to find more than one person that’s not happy with Progress. Three posts and about 20 comments and this is the only truly negative response, has Progress offended you? You’re acting like you have a grudge.
The Craig’s list add is awesome.
Whine whine, whine. Buck up. If you don’t take care of yourself, no one is going to do it for you.
Funny, when I was born, no one gave me a guarantee it would be easy. Friends help.
This has got to be the best example of a beer city usa meets craig list example i have seen…
http://asheville.craigslist.org/zip/1520239823.html