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Houston is doing this for new developments but it’s infeasible for existing neighborhoods because there’s already a bunch of other stuff underground there and i
by reaperman 2y ago
Houston is doing this for new developments but it’s infeasible for existing neighborhoods because there’s already a bunch of other stuff underground there and its a very slow and expensive process.
The correct way to handle above-ground powerlines is to perform regular maintenance on any trees growing near the lines. Centerpoint skimped on this expense and it resulted in 85% of Houston losing power.
- EasyMark 2y agoI think is a huge part of it. I saw a Houston area news channel interviewing locals and some said that they had requested clearing from Center Point energy on the property months/years before anything would ever get trimmed. Austin linemen who agreed to travel down there said they were told to pay for their own meals and hotels (aka no per diem available) when they didn’t -have- to go there and were trying to help sent by Austin Energy. Who is going to volunteer to go under those terms?
- silverquiet 2y agoI'm in South Texas (not Houston though) and same - I had trees growing into the power lines in my alley. I put in a request to trim them and was basically told nicely to pound sand (I think they said something like they might get around to it in six to twelve months). I ended up paying a trimmer to take care of it, but I don't imagine that everyone in my (lower-income) neighborhood can afford that.
- reaperman 2y agoI mean tbf the linemen are making like $120/hr (double pay) so its probably still worth coming here. But it’s not a good look for Centerpoint and shows what they’re focused on.