Major power outage in Downtown Detroit

[mwilbert]

It is a sign of the slow pace of reform in Detroit that Public Lighting still exists.

[kraig]

Before everyone comes down to hard on PLD, remember that Edison had 60,000 without power yesterday and still about 10,000 without power today. And let's not forget that DTE damn near burned down an entire neighborhood last summer.

Everyone that sells or produces power has problems, just saying.

[Carey]

Before everyone comes down to hard on PLD, remember that Edison had 60,000 without power yesterday and still about 10,000 without power today. And let's not forget that DTE damn near burned down an entire neighborhood last summer.

Everyone that sells or produces power has problems, just saying.

But why can't we come down on PLD, and DPD, and DFD, and EMS, and DPW, and DWSD, and DPS and DPL when they don't show up or don't deliver or, in general, screw up? Why make excuses when the public lighting department experiences problems virtually every summer and officials admit the equipment is in shambles and so many street lights are on the blink night after night after night? Detroit does not function like most American cities function. There are many complex reasons for that dysfunction, but in the end, taxpayers receive less return for their money here than taxpayers elsewhere, and that's a shame, and that's why the exodus continues.

I think it's simplistic to say DTE "damn near burned down an entire neighborhood last summer." Blocks did burn down, and DTE wires were part of the cause, though the state Public Service Commission's investigation failed to find DTE was the main culprit in that disaster. If you listen to the radio ads currently being run by the Detroit fire union, the cause of the 80 destroyed homes was an overmatched and undermanned DFD.

[iheartthed]

But why can't we come down on PLD, and DPD, and DFD, and EMS, and DPW, and DWSD, and DPS and DPL when they don't show up or don't deliver or, in general, screw up? Why make excuses when the public lighting department experiences problems virtually every summer and officials admit the equipment is in shambles and so many street lights are on the blink night after night after night? Detroit does not function like most American cities function. There are many complex reasons for that dysfunction, but in the end, taxpayers receive less return for their money here than taxpayers elsewhere, and that's a shame, and that's why the exodus continues.

I think it's simplistic to say DTE "damn near burned down an entire neighborhood last summer." Blocks did burn down, and DTE wires were part of the cause, though the state Public Service Commission's investigation failed to find DTE was the main culprit in that disaster. If you listen to the radio ads currently being run by the Detroit fire union, the cause of the 80 destroyed homes was an overmatched and undermanned DFD.

I don't think it's that common for cities to operate their own electric company anymore. And the city itself has been trying to get out of that business for years, but can't get anyone to take it over.

[BrushStart]

The power is on at my building, but much of downtown near Cobo is still dark. I don't know if anyone specific is to blame. California lived with rolling-blackouts for years due to Enron and friends. Anyone remember that? This is tiddlywinks compared to that.

[kraig]

But why can't we come down on PLD, and DPD, and DFD, and EMS, and DPW, and DWSD, and DPS and DPL when they don't show up or don't deliver or, in general, screw up? Why make excuses when the public lighting department experiences problems virtually every summer and officials admit the equipment is in shambles and so many street lights are on the blink night after night after night? Detroit does not function like most American cities function. There are many complex reasons for that dysfunction, but in the end, taxpayers receive less return for their money here than taxpayers elsewhere, and that's a shame, and that's why the exodus continues.

I think it's simplistic to say DTE "damn near burned down an entire neighborhood last summer." Blocks did burn down, and DTE wires were part of the cause, though the state Public Service Commission's investigation failed to find DTE was the main culprit in that disaster. If you listen to the radio ads currently being run by the Detroit fire union, the cause of the 80 destroyed homes was an overmatched and undermanned DFD.

Of course it's okay to come down hard on PLD or any other entity that's not doing its job correctly. I'm just keeping it in perspective that PLD is not the only entity that's having trouble. Every time this happens the call for privatization goes out and no one considers that DTE has problems of its own. But, no one is calling for them to get out of the business.

As far as the MPSC is concerned, I would think that an investigation that consisted of a few people meeting in Lansing to read a report submitted by DTE wouldn't yield much. The MSPC is one of the biggest rubber stamping groups in government whose members and employees are more concerned with trying to land jobs and contracts with the entities they're tasked with monitoring and investigating than anything else.

[Wesley Mouch]

Of course it's okay to come down hard on PLD or any other entity that's not doing its job correctly. I'm just keeping it in perspective that PLD is not the only entity that's having trouble. Every time this happens the call for privatization goes out and no one considers that DTE has problems of its own. But, no one is calling for them to get out of the business.....

Check your perspective. DTE's problems w/ outages are almost nearly always in the 'burbs, with overhead lines.

Have worked downtown for the last 20 years, and there were NO outages caused by weather. Three outages total. Big one in 2003, a new power line for Comerica took down a substation, backhoe cut a line.

Have also worked with DPL. They are grossly incompetent. And it only takes a quick look at the streetlights to see it.

[kraig]

Check your perspective. DTE's problems w/ outages are almost nearly always in the 'burbs, with overhead lines.

Have worked downtown for the last 20 years, and there were NO outages caused by weather. Three outages total. Big one in 2003, a new power line for Comerica took down a substation, backhoe cut a line.

Have also worked with DPL. They are grossly incompetent. And it only takes a quick look at the streetlights to see it.

My apologies, I was unaware that having the same problems over and over again in the suburbs doesn't count. And it's highly doubtful that you've worked with the City of Detroit's system. Because if you had, you would know the name of it is PLD.

[Danny]

The cause of the power outage is people using their AC's units all day and night. This cause a blow out of the main transformers somewhat at the Downtown Substation.

[JohnnyFreddy]

I think all ya'll [[sorry, I been watching Treme' ya'll) are looking at this situation all wrong.
[[word for the day:ALL) This is a conspiracy theorists dream come true. Everyone knows the city
hasn't been paying it's bills [[see: AT&T). This is just another incident of that problem. The downage
was a planned glitch to warn Detroit/Mayor Bing of the impending doom which the City faces
if the 'powers that be' don't play ball. Karen Dumas couldn't convince a flea that she's telling the
truth about any given subject. She's just not a very good spokesperson...kinda like
that Sharon McPhail[[ed) and her believability when she opened her mouth, back
in the days of the KK administration. Very intelligent people that aren't very good
liars.
OR...maybe this was a grand opportunity for hackers to infiltrate the 'system'
while the grid was down [[hey, even with 'no electricity' these people can do ?)....
...in order to remove information relating to the TAMARA GREENE case.
If ALL the correct info. was ever brought to light, God only knows how many heads
would roll, and WHO. This could potentially bring down the whole City Of Detroit!!
...I told you this was a conspiracy theorists dream come true...POWWWW!!!!!!