In an effort to reduce the number of outages caused when light rain, mist or fog comes in contact with dust, dirt or salt on power lines, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has expanded its pole-washing program in parts of the East Bay.
Pole washing consists of spraying equipment with water to wash away contaminants from electric lines and equipment, typically in late summer and into the fall, to prevent pole fires and outages.
During a dry season, and especially amid the current drought affecting California, dust, dirt, salt and other substances accumulate on power lines.
When light rain or mist arrives after a long dry spell, it can turn this mixture into mud, which conducts electricity.
This can damage electrical equipment, potentially resulting in pole fires and outages.
Thank you for explainimg what pole washing is! I’ve known some golfers who have suffered serious injury because the misunderstood the purpose of the ball washer on the golf course
Do golfers also have ball dryers like the bowling alleys have hand dryers?
I can’t wait until the last remaining coal-fired power plant is taken out of service in our state. This will be fun. How will I be able to use any electrical items if generators are removed and illegal?
Simple, just ban the items
Newsom is requiring that by 2024 all California generators run on 110 volt household current. He feels it’s the progressive thing to do.
Gavin is upset however that household current is only AC, which is not inclusive. He is working on legislation that all households run on both AC & DC. It’s an equity thing.
@Fearless – You are discriminating against tri-phase power!
FWIW, early uninterruptible power supplies for computers ran on electrical power. The setup was an electric motor driving a large flywheel and also a generator, all on the same shaft. When incoming power went out the flywheel kept the generator spinning. This setup also made for very steady power for the computer.
The small gas engines are being banned for sale but I think those that have them will be able to continue using them… I think.
If not, are the small engine police gonna be coming around to impound your small engine devices?
@Glen223
Yes, to both your statement, and question. Once CA cannot sell a Craftsman lawnmower, Reno will see an uptick in sales. Then, the legislators will get angry that we (once free) citizens found a way to get around their tyranny, and will hammer down further. I also envision small engine buybacks (Cash for Cutters?), and eventual licensing requiring Smog Checks, which will lead to removal of them. Natch, this is said half in jest, but the level of need to control is immeasurable in our “elected” representatives/legislators and their entrench bureaucrats.
This is outrageous.
We are in the middle of a horrific drought.
We are going to be forced to reduce water usage dramatically.
And PG&E can waste water spraying it into the air.
I’ll bet high pressured air would do just as good as water,
Unless air is in short supply, then, never mind.
I’m going to assume that this was a sarcastic post.
Can’t have high powered air machines, might spread Covid.
Gee wiz, spraying with water. I think that qualifies for COVID HOAX relief. Good one. We taxpayers getting hosed by the minute. 5 dollar gas is good for your health.
,
Will a new fee appear on our utility bill?
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How much water will this require?
Pole washing????!! I mean come on, who doesn’t like having their poke washed?🤣
A few weeks ago the bay area received a very light dusting of rain. This caused a large and lengthy power outage in western Richmond on down to El Cerrito. At the time PG&E claimed the cause was a long dry spell with no rain coats the poles with a layer of dust. A light dusting of rain turned the dust into mud which then shorted out the poles. Had there been more rain the mud would have have washed off the poles before it built up to the point where it could short out a pole.
At the time my wife and wondered if there was something in the emissions from the oil refineries in that area that was triggering the formation of mud that was conductive enough that it affected PG&E’s equipment. Mud in itself is not particularly conductive. Even if it were, it seems electrical transmission lines have enough current carrying capacity to instantly bake off any minor shorts or low resistance paths between the lines as they formed.
@Cranky – Would you prefer a crispy taco or one that’s moist? 🌮
Insulate better and save time and money. This is another joke.
That was a sarcastic reply, this_that.
Them electrons always take easiest path to earth ground.
Outside contractors showed up to wash down incoming power pole insulators. Had trailer with tank on it and high pressure pump. Worker gets into man basket on a snorkel truck, has his rain gear on and pressure sprayer with nozzle. Points it at insulator and starts washing, ’bout 20 seconds into it, giant flash followed by a very loud boom.
Little fella lowers basket back down, takes off rain gear while co workers secured hose and they all got in their trucks and departed. An possibly a shower and clean underwear.
Speculation was tank they were pumping from had either city or canal water, instead of demin water to wash down our live incoming power lines.
(13,800 volts)
Ha Ha Ha!
They can’t keep the power on, or clear the trees from the lines, but they can WASH POLES?
Ummm…it’s raining
A long overwhelming task of burying power lines is going to be very costly and may take decades it not a century to perform, but it needs to start somewhere to prevent all these problems with overhead power lines.
Burying of high voltage transmission lines isn’t gonna happen to any signification degree because of severe topography, especially in canyons. Problems with transmission lines, . . . cumulative.
“State regulators noted that lines that sparked the 2018 wildfire had not been inspected since before 2001”
california globe https://tinyurl.com/rrkcbc48
This is one of the better pieces done on 2018 Camp Fire.
Well worth reading more than once.
‘PG&E knew old power line parts had ‘severe wear’ months before deadly Camp Fire’
abc 10 https://tinyurl.com/hcbzr4px