Minor power outage

[Ivan the Butcher]

I live in a complex of condos (about 450), in the middle of 8 or 10 condo complexes (about 4000 total).

One of the things the developer did to insure income after he quit building was put ALL of these complexes on his own privet utility company (Water and Electric). In Ohio, these companies are not regulated! So if you have a beef with them the State has no authorization to step in!

All of the complexes have this electrical problem, The power grid is undersized for the high peak demand! And Yesterday afternoon it had a melt down. One Complex (of course it was mine) Main transfer switch melted! About the 3rd time in the 14 years these places have existed. That part is expensive and unusual, so the service truck does not have one on it.

It took 4 hours to look at the problem and another 6 to find the part and it only took a half hour to install it! So this morning at 0220 the power came bake on.

On a small outage like this the worst thing that happens is the ice maker melts a little, then refreezes! You have to get the refrozen block of ice out or you burn out the motor in the dispenser! I did that this morning, and while the fridge is out from the wall, I found all this really neat stuff under the fridge. Won't my wife be surprised when she comes home?!

We also have 4 or 5 outages a year, when they just "Push The Reset", plus There are the outages when the main power company loses power, last one of those was 8 years ago (two years before we moved in), it lasted 4 days.

I have a 4 KW generator and the parts to tie it into my breaker box, but I just can't bring myself to pull that trigger! I told the wife I was willing to be in this unit 5 years, and have been here 6 already; but I still don't feel I belong here.

Ivan

 

[Spurdann]

Sounds like it is time to move. Do you see the electrical situation ever being rectified?

 

[LoboGunLeather]

We chose a "patio home" for retirement. Essentially a townhouse community with 20 homes, all one-level with 2-car attached garages, arranged around a private cul-de-sac. Park-like setting, lots of trees, beautifully maintained landscaping, and a central area with covered gazebo and rose garden. Very quiet and peaceful. No rental units are allowed, all residents must be the owners or immediate family. All but one of the homeowners are retired, most in their 70s and 80s. Of the 20 only one is a complete prick, and only one is a whiny complaining unhappy old gal, the rest are excellent neighbors.

Our motivation was to live without all the exterior maintenance, yard work, snow removal, etc. That has worked out great for us. We also have a private patio area (about 650 sq. ft.) where I can do pretty much as I please, and I have a pretty decent little garden (tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, cucumbers, lettuce). All of our utilities are from public companies; gas and electric separately metered, water & sewer provided by the HOA.

We have been here about 6 years now, and property values have risen by 35% (I figure our equity is growing by ~$900 per month as we live here). 5 of the 20 homes have gone on the market during our time here, and all have sold within a week, usually in bidding wars going above listed prices.

Sounds like you are receiving very little of the benefits provided by townhouse/condo living.

 

[JohnHL]

Do you see the electrical situation ever being rectified?

Only if everyone converts to DC power!

John

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Do you see the electrical situation ever being rectified?

Not without a major overhaul of the power grid!

Ivan

 

[Steve912]

Only if everyone converts to DC power!

John

Smooth move...

You defiantly don't want a power outrage, especially
in the middle of machining a muzzle break.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Sounds like you are receiving very little of the benefits provided by townhouse/condo living.

Lobo; your condo sounds very nice! I don't have as big of personal space, but we don't have the maintenance and grounds issues that regular home living generates! I watch and drink Ice tea when the grass needs mowing. We have beautiful grounds with 2 ponds, a very nice pool and our own gym and party house.

As far as equity goes, I own outright, the the value of the unit is up about 30% in the 6 years we've lived here. Our style unit has a detached 2 car garage with a court yard between the condo and garage we also planted herb and flowers, but out setting doesn't allow full size tomatoes to mature on the vine, just not enough sun.

As to crabby people. By deed restriction no more than 10% may be rentals (by law nearly impossible to enforce and easily circumvented!) The current 7 residents of our building are all pretty good neighbors, AND the HOA has a few Nazis to keep everybody in line. Every once and a while tell them they need to get back in line. (44 years in property management and Apartment complex ownership taught me a few things!)

Compared to other condos around; we have much better than average maintained streets! Our buildings are well kept and our general appearance is fantastic. Probably only 15 to 20% are retired About the same have children but they usually move due to no playgrounds!! (sneaky way around discrimination!) Every unit has at east a one car garage and the are 2.5 parking spots per unit by building code, so there is ample parking, except when the local sports teams are up for national championships, the parking gets a little sparse, but we all cooperate.

My wife retires in 1 to 1.5 years, when that happens, we will see where end up!

Ivan

 

[MTC(SS)Ret]

Only if everyone converts to DC power!

John

I wonder how many people got that pun

 

[JohnHL]

I wonder how many people got that pun

Judging from the responses, only you.

John

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I wonder how many people got that pun

Judging from the responses, only you.

John

Apparently so. Now I feel like an Englishman in his old age.

 

[SMSgt]

As I sit here on my 85x125 lot on a canal, the ducks are flying in to feed under the bird feeder, a screech owl is peeking out of the bird nest above the bird feeder, and some pink spoonbills flew by a while ago. It gets a bit noisy when the ducks start squabbling, but it passes the time. As long as the power stays on and the AC is running, it's all good.

 

[Steve912]

Judging from the responses, only you.

John

I sense some bias, in your response.

 

[pharmer]

I sense some bias, in your response.

All the charged responses, just a matter of time before somebody gets hertz and sent ohm. Joe

 

[Golphin]

I don't think I would make it in a condo. As far as power being out you don't want to come to Florida when after a major storm we may go weeks with no power as we did in 2004. That is with 90 plus temps & 99% humidity. Not a lot of fun for sure.

 

[mick1213]

I’ll not be negative, I liked the pun....

Only if everyone converts to DC power!

John

 

[JohnHL]

On an impulse, it is with reluctance that I announce that I must not induce any impedance to the positive direction and flow of this thread.

Furthermore, I will do all within the capacitance of my power to amp up efforts of resistance to squelch this open microphone.

And my trans sister agrees with me!

John

 

[ameridaddy]

On an impulse, it is with reluctance that I announce that I must not induce any impedance to the positive direction and flow of this thread.

Furthermore, I will do all within the capacitance of my power to amp up efforts of resistance to squelch this open microphone.

And my trans sister agrees with me!

John

My goodness, that generated a lot of brain waves, and I found it was transformative, with no negative thoughts, only positive, even among my friends who are Poles. My battery is so charged up, I'm gonna be outta here like a lightning bolt, thundering down the highway to battery all resistance like an Energizer Bunny.

 

[Golddollar]

All the charged responses, just a matter of time before somebody gets hertz and sent ohm. Joe

< < < rimshot > > >

 

[djohns6]

I've never heard of the situation that the OP describes concerning a " private utility company " . I'm assuming the complex is still connected to the power company and is just metered like one commercial customer . What's the advantage ? Well , I guess the property owner is charging a extra fee of some kind . Hard to believe there is no oversight at all . Weird situation .
Edit ...I have seen this done with water companies , but there is so much regulation over electric utility companies . State and Federal .

 

[AJ]

I live in a complex of condos (about 450), in the middle of 8 or 10 condo complexes (about 4000 total).

One of the things the developer did to insure income after he quit building was put ALL of these complexes on his own privet utility company (Water and Electric). In Ohio, these companies are not regulated! So if you have a beef with them the State has no authorization to step in!

All of the complexes have this electrical problem, The power grid is undersized for the high peak demand! And Yesterday afternoon it had a melt down. One Complex (of course it was mine) Main transfer switch melted! About the 3rd time in the 14 years these places have existed. That part is expensive and unusual, so the service truck does not have one on it.

It took 4 hours to look at the problem and another 6 to find the part and it only took a half hour to install it! So this morning at 0220 the power came bake on.

On a small outage like this the worst thing that happens is the ice maker melts a little, then refreezes! You have to get the refrozen block of ice out or you burn out the motor in the dispenser! I did that this morning, and while the fridge is out from the wall, I found all this really neat stuff under the fridge. Won't my wife be surprised when she comes home?!

We also have 4 or 5 outages a year, when they just "Push The Reset", plus There are the outages when the main power company loses power, last one of those was 8 years ago (two years before we moved in), it lasted 4 days.

I have a 4 KW generator and the parts to tie it into my breaker box, but I just can't bring myself to pull that trigger! I told the wife I was willing to be in this unit 5 years, and have been here 6 already; but I still don't feel I belong here.

Ivan

Time to get out of Dodge if you can afford it.