Unexpected generator run time

[LittleBill21]

got an odd call from my cousin who lives in the city, asking if i had a generator (i have several). i said yes then asked why, he tells me there was some kind of administrative discrepancy at the power company and another house with the same street name (in another city) had a past electrical bill, so the power company came to their house and cut the power. The best part even after being on the phone for 4 hours trying to clear this up, along with a sick mother who needs medical machines in house, the power company will still not turn the power back on till tomorrow. even though they screwed up. how nuts is that.

well my new inverter generator is getting a nice work out. expecting roughly 20 hours when all said and done..

 

[Citydude]

That's pretty nuts. That power company has no scruples. I grew up in a small town and the local fuel oil and propane delivery company's owner told me when he sold out, he left thousands of dollars on the debt sheet for non payment from some of his customers. I asked why he continued to fill people's tanks when he knew they wouldn't pay. His reply was "it wasn't that they wouldn't pay, they couldn't pay". He could not shut them off and live with himself. I admired him for that.

I realize large cities cant/wont help the hardship cases. It's another reason I'm glad I grew up in a small town. I have a suspicion, as my parents were poor, that they were recipients of his giving once and a while. Rest in piece Ted, you were a true gentleman.

 

[coobie]

got an odd call from my cousin who lives in the city, asking if i had a generator (i have several). i said yes then asked why, he tells me there was some kind of administrative discrepancy at the power company and another house with the same street name (in another city) had a past electrical bill, so the power company came to their house and cut the power. The best part even after being on the phone for 4 hours trying to clear this up, along with a sick mother who needs medical machines in house, the power company will still not turn the power back on till tomorrow. even though they screwed up. how nuts is that.

well my new inverter generator is getting a nice work out. expecting roughly 20 hours when all said and done..

You can bet there is more to this story.I am a retired electric lineman (38)years you just don,t go out and make a mistake like the one you describe especially with a sick mother in the home.Have your cousin file a corporate complaint with the power company & with the public service commission of his state.They have to respond within 72 hours.

 

[Sigarms]

You can bet there is more to this story.I am a retired electric lineman (38)years you just don,t go out and make a mistake like the one you describe especially with a sick mother in the home.Have your cousin file a corporate complaint with the power company & with the public service commission of his state.They have to respond within 72 hours.

My FIL was a lineman for 30 plus years in Vermont. Listening to his stories on having to deal with some interesting people (as well as weather), I was thinking the same thing.

 

[LittleBill21]

im not sure what else the story is, they are coming back today by 1, they show that her account doesn't exist and or shows as a apartment complex(they own a normal home), the lineman didn't know the mother is sick, didn't even knock on the door, left a placard and pulled the meter put the tabs in it and resealed. i listened to the call as she was talking to the power company i wanted to cut the seal and take the tabs off, but they freaked so then ran on genny all night.

the point was 24 hours for a screw up is nuts its 25 degree's outside today.

on the bright side the genny ran continuous since 1 pm yesterday and only used roughly 3 gallons of gas im pretty impressed.

 

[SPYDERLK]

got an odd call from my cousin who lives in the city, asking if i had a generator (i have several). i said yes then asked why, he tells me there was some kind of administrative discrepancy at the power company and another house with the same street name (in another city) had a past electrical bill, so the power company came to their house and cut the power. The best part even after being on the phone for 4 hours trying to clear this up, along with a sick mother who needs medical machines in house, the power company will still not turn the power back on till tomorrow. even though they screwed up. how nuts is that.

well my new inverter generator is getting a nice work out. expecting roughly 20 hours when all said and done..

You can bet there is more to this story.I am a retired electric lineman (38)years you just don,t go out and make a mistake like the one you describe especially with a sick mother in the home.Have your cousin file a corporate complaint with the power company & with the public service commission of his state.They have to respond within 72 hours.

Theyre doing that. ... But they should have to respond within minutes and give a month of power free at minimum.

 

[TractorGuy]

on the bright side the genny ran continuous since 1 pm yesterday and only used roughly 3 gallons of gas im pretty impressed.

What brand/size generator is this?

 

[LittleBill21]

What brand/size generator is this?

Amazon.com : WEN 562i, 16 Running Watts/2 Starting Watts, 4-Stroke Gas Powered Portable Inverter Generator, CARB Compliant : Patio, Lawn & Garden

 

[Sigarms]

im not sure what else the story is, they are coming back today by 1, they show that her account doesn't exist and or shows as a apartment complex(they own a normal home), the lineman didn't know the mother is sick, didn't even knock on the door, left a placard and pulled the meter put the tabs in it and resealed. i listened to the call as she was talking to the power company i wanted to cut the seal and take the tabs off, but they freaked so then ran on genny all night.

the point was 24 hours for a screw up is nuts its 25 degree's outside today.

on the bright side the genny ran continuous since 1 pm yesterday and only used roughly 3 gallons of gas im pretty impressed.

Generally it takes more than a late payment for the power company to turn power off for one.

People who run power companies aren't stupid, added I believe there are regulations that must be followed prior to turning off power completely off to a residence.

http://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/utility_and_heating_disconnect.html

The fact is power companies don't need the headache of "bad press" for a clerical error as this post seems to lean towards.

 

[LittleBill21]

the notices for power being turned off were sent to the correct address in the other town, yet somehow they got her address to actually cut power. IDK power is restored and my cousin didn't give them a dime since his bill was paid.

after getting there i learned i actually only used 2 and 1/3 gallons, really happy with the genny, time for a oil change and some bed rest she's tired