User profile: flyingsparks
Joined: June 19, 2008
Comments posted: 9
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Comments by flyingsparks
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Posted on October 8 at 2:09 p.m.
Obviously the economy is not affecting Mr. Arceri's imaginary consulting rates. He has raised them from $350 per hour to $500 per hour in the last month. Maybe the city should buy Mr. Arceri for what he is actually worth and sell him for what he thinks he is worth and all the city's financial problems would disappear.
Posted on July 23 at 10:13 p.m.
Since the local press appears to be in concert with the city about downplaying any positive information about LCEC, I will give you the facts. The circuit outage near Tigertail was caused by a palm frond on the lines. I guess people will never figure out not to plant trees near powerlines. LCEC was able to restore some customers through switching and all customers on the circuit by 1:35p.m. The underground system on Collier held and they are currently inspecting the system because sometimes damage to underground systems can take weeks to appear. There were other isolated outages, but most customers were restored by 6:00 p.m. All of the repair work was done by LCEC employees already stationed on the island. Additional LCEC crews were dispatched to assist, but they were not allowed by city officials to cross the Jolley bridge. They went around to the Goodland bridge and were available for repair work. Just another example of how ludicrous it is that Mr. Joel and Mr. Waldack contend that all of our maintenance and repair work is done by outside contractors. Talk about misinformation! Great job, as usual, LCEC.
On Much of Marco Island under water and without power for six hours
Posted on July 23 at 7:03 p.m.
Wayne, you finally spoke the truth today in the Eagle when you said, "People are using (the rise in their water bills) against the idea of electric municipalization because we messed up the water." Too bad you left out the blunder on the sewer system which is costing many of us $20,000. You stated in your previous guest commentary that the writer had overstated the 100 million dollar price tag for the electric utility by 70-80 percent and that Mr. Hamilton stated in his presentation that the cost could be closer to 30 million. I was also at the meeting and it is you who is mistaken. The question asked was, "What is the value of the equity ownership accounts held by Marco Island customers?" Mr. Hamilton replied that he believed those equity accounts totaled somewhere around 30 million. That has nothing to do with the purchase price under a condemnation taking. Maybe in Wayne's World you can buy a well-maintained electrical system for a third of the price of a water and sewer system in a state of disrepair, but in the real world, I don't believe that's possible. I think most people would agree that after all the money you've saved us on the water and sewer systems, we can't afford for you to save us any more money on our electrical system. The 5 million dollar savings you have spoken of was merely an attempt by WHH Enterprises to entice our ill-informed council to spend more money on another report. The report was about undergrounding, not municipalization. They cited no facts or figures to support their assertion. Now we have people like you quoting it as if it were fact. You are the one misinformed and providing misinformation.
Posted on July 14 at 4:51 p.m.
Mr. Thompson states in his article that a great deal of the existing utilities are already underground and also that a substantial portion of the city is already served by underground utilities. According to information furnished by the city, there are approximately 130 miles of overhead and underground conductors on the island. The undergrounded electrical on Collier Boulevard from the Jolley Bridge to Winterberry measures 3.6 miles. That amounts to 3% of the whole island. I would call that neither a great deal nor a substantial portion.
The reason there has been virtually no flood related impact on electrical equipment or wires in this area is because they were still overhead when Wilma arrived in October 2005. We have not had any other major storms, and I hope we don't.
The statement you made that the flooding of the electrical system is not comparable to dropping a toaster in bathwater is correct. With 14.4 KV, it's more like dropping a hand grenade in bathwater.
On Guest commentary: Watts up with undergrounding electrical services
Posted on July 14 at 3:04 p.m.
Ed, Your bias is already apparent by your statement that the facts and figures will probably support conclusions that Hall and Neylon are "opposed to". This does not sound like an open mind, but rather predisposition. This appears to be nothing more than an exercise in futility with a pre-determined outcome where the majority with little knowledge force their political and Utopian views on the few who have knowledge and honest intentions.
Posted on June 26 at 4:37 p.m.
Ed:Suggest you read www.fpl.com/faqs/underground.shtlm, and you will find out what FPL really thinks about undergrounding electrical systems and the associated costs. Please pay particular attention to Question #22, where they estimate the cost of undergrounding to be $500,000 to 4 million per mile and also Question #27 where they list areas that would not be feasible for undergrounding. There is very little new technology out there. The wiring sections of padmount transformer enclosures are still open and subject to flooding and any idiot knows the windings are waterproof. They are sealed and filled with insulating liquid plus a nitrogen blanket to prevent air and moisture intrusion. The only difference is they formally used PCB insulating oil, 10C oil or R-Temp, and now they use Envirotemp or FR3 which is 98% soybean oil. The 200 amp load break elbows and 600 amp T-bodies for connections have not changed. The only difference in EPR or XLP medium voltage cable is that instead of MV90, it is now MV105, which mean it is rated at 105degrees C instead of 90degrees C. They are rated for wet and dry locations, but not recommended for direct burial in salt water. I am neither old nor out of date.
Posted on June 25 at 2:19 p.m.
Those who actually install and repair these systems do not need research; they already have the knowledge. Product knowledge is an important asset for salesmen, but practical application and experience appear to be greatly lacking. Just because you sell rocket fuel doesn't mean you're a rocket scientist.
Posted on June 19 at 4:45 p.m.
Marco"Facts", it is not your energy that is lacking; it is your knowledge.
It would be unfair for the author to engage in a battle of wits with someone who is obviously totally unarmed.
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Posted on October 8 at 2:16 p.m.
I forgot one important part....."Just some thoughts"....
On Politics get personal at Marco City Council meeting