California has banned generators.

[mean dad]

That is not what El Dirty is implying, however, were I to live in a state that was going to ban generators in 2 to 6 years I might go purchase one with cash well before they became unavailable.

 

[mrmarklin]

Curious. How long do they typically shut off power during the PG&E "safety" outages? I was under the impression they generally only lasted a few hours (like less than 12).

I was out for 2-1/2 days last year in the heat of summer ca. 100d. Most outages are very short, but we have them every year. The dread is what happens in winter if the outage is a couple of days. Then pipes freeze. It's a problem. I'll have to find some cake. Maybe it will tide me over.

 

[mean dad]

Leave the faucet open just a little bit, it'll keep the water running and prevent it from freezing...you know unless it gets cold cold.

 

[metalmaster]

Leave the faucet open just a little bit, it'll keep the water running and prevent it from freezing...you know unless it gets cold cold.

hard to do when you are on a well

 

[ScorpioVI]

Nevada is also a quick 4 hour drive when the restriction kicks in

Anybody want my address if you want to ship your generators (and ammunition) to my place? I'm 10 minutes from the strip.

 

[Eldritch]

Curious. How long do they typically shut off power during the PG&E "safety" outages? I was under the impression they generally only lasted a few hours (like less than 12).

No, in the North Bay, where the fire season is typically the worst, they can often last for days. Before I bought my gas Generator (mad thanks to Holeshot for the hook up), the worst one I experienced was about 5 days.

The cell phone towers died on day 2, the land line phones died on day 3. People seriously had no power, no phones, just cut off in the quiet for days.

I am lucky that I have a Fire Dept 3 blocks from my place and I am very capable of acting as my own Police Dept. MY Mom lives about a mile away from me and I was concerned for the entire time. The following summer, I made my youngest brother who lives with her get a Ham Radio license with me and bought some decent hand helds so I can storm over there if need be without relying on outside communication infrastructure.

How many apartment dwellers currently rely on a gas-powered generator for emergency power?
How are the logistics handled if one does not have a balcony? Set it by a window or open door and the first thing that gets plugged in is a fan to blow the exhaust out?

One could just throw a few expansion anchors in the floor wherever one might use it anyway and voila, a fixed generator. Done for the season? Unbolt it and put it away.

What just described is a direct violation of 98% of rental leases and grounds for eviction.

Same reason renters cannot use any solar on the roof, even going on the roof of most rental units is grounds for eviction.

That is not what El Dirty is implying, however, were I to live in a state that was going to ban generators in 2 to 6 years I might go purchase one with cash well before they became unavailable.

I mean, let's be honest. These CARB fuckers are not going to be enforcing any of that shit during a PSPS, and even if they wanted to, it would be extremely difficult.

They created this law to fuck with the RV Camping community.

The basic thing I am hacked off about is the irresponsible nature of legislation that is intended to force citizens to rely on public infrastructure proven and known to fail annually. Last piece I read stated that it would be 20 years before PG&E was caught up on their infrastructure repairs.

To have a broken system like that and attempt to ban the tools citizens use for self reliance away from that failing system is outrageous. You're just leveraging the system to make people victims.

That shit is is as stupid as like, defunding the police and making ammunition unavailable to the public at the same time.

Oh wait...

 

[mean dad]

Okay but you haven't described which apartment dwellers who currently use gas generators aren't going to be able to use them after the ban.


Edit to add: Not sure if the use of a generator in an apartment itself will get you booted, or the bolting it to the floor part...if it's just using one then your point is moot as they can't use one now. If it's the 2 small female anchors dropped into the floor that would violate the terms of their lease, then put it on the floor next to a wall and attach it like a flat screen tv.
I should add that I'm obviously talking about a quick fix to an emergency issue. If I absolutely need power I doubt I'll let the fact that my generator isn't bolted to the floor stop me from using it in the immediacy. Beyond that it seems apartment dwellers are limited in their approach to emergency power in the first place.

I just don't know how large the group of people is that can currently use a gas powered gennie, but won't be able to in 2028 due to their rental status.

 

[Holeshot]

It's the structural modifications that will violate the lease. I haven't seen a lease that references how/ where power is delivered/ not to be delivered. It's not been adjudicated in any capacity I'm guessing, hence why there's not language. This may be different in city environment leases. Eldity is gonna know what the deal is here I think.

 

[Eldritch]

Okay but you haven't described which apartment dwellers who currently use gas generators aren't going to be able to use them after the ban.

Edit to add: Not sure if the use of a generator in an apartment itself will get you booted, or the bolting it to the floor part...if it's just using one then your point is moot as they can't use one now. If it's the 2 small female anchors dropped into the floor that would violate the terms of their lease, then put it on the floor next to a wall and attach it like a flat screen tv.
I should add that I'm obviously talking about a quick fix to an emergency issue. If I absolutely need power I doubt I'll let the fact that my generator isn't bolted to the floor stop me from using it in the immediacy. Beyond that it seems apartment dwellers are limited in their approach to emergency power in the first place.

I just don't know how large the group of people is that can currently use a gas powered gennie, but won't be able to in 2028 due to their rental status.

It could be either. Typically there is a rule in there about appliances. Some people like to buy those countertop dishwashers for units that don't have 'em. That is grounds for eviction etc. Similarly some leases will have specific rules about keeping gasoline or combustible devices in the unit.

Those are all hit or miss depending on how strict a document they run. The universal one is the mounting hardware. That is for certain an illegal modification to the unit and you will find that defined in like 98% of any professional lease agreement.

The answer about who won't be able to use one after 2028 is simple, anyone who moves to CA in 2029.

You keep asking about who is goign to be effected as if they people matter. They do not. People are meaningless tax widgets. What matters is the system that manages the tax widgets.

That is my point of outrage, this is a poor system design. This rule is one that exacerbates existing problems rather than improves the operation of society to make it more stable and efficient.

 

[mbsv]

What are any of you talking about?

First off, CARB isn't (under the rules we're discussing here) going to go after any apartment dweller or homeowner. Why would they?

(I am assuming you read the article or regulations, not just the thread title here.)

Second off, clearly most apartment dweller can't generally use a generator. Maybe if they have a deck and fire code allows it, or a garden apartment? But again, do you really think with the proposed regulations any of that matters?

 

[nakedape]

They created this law to fuck with the RV Camping community.

As someone that set up a quiet camp with a cohort of other quiet campers in a remote location accessible to larger vehicles, I support this form of discrimination. Having yahoos in huge rigs roll up and blast their genny all night while we tent camp and they hunker down 20' away from the noise indoors...

 

[kiwi_outdoors]

Enforcement will be lax to non-existent, other than banning sales

Enforcement will be lax to non-existent, other than banning sales

our City's ban on gas-powered leaf blowers and weedeasters is worthless.

 

[mean dad]

The answer about who won't be able to use one after 2028 is simple, anyone who moves to CA in 2029.

You keep asking about who is goign to be effected as if they people matter. They do not. People are meaningless tax widgets. What matters is the system that manages the tax widgets.

No, I'm asking who you're talking about in the bolded statement below:

...I'm just seeing a ton of privilege in here and I guess I'm just not fucking interested in the opinion of anyone who is not living in rental apartment housing in Sonoma County, where ALL the shut offs happen.

 

[kuksul08]

Anyone defending this is pretty clueless.

The power goes out where I live constantly. We probably run the generator 20 to 30 days out of the year on average. Our generator is about 20 years old and running strong, but if it randomly blows up - then what? We have to drive to Reno to buy another one? The resellers out of state will be legally required to verify residence before selling them or face insane penalties, no doubt.

There just isn't an alternative. Our electrical infrastructure is fragile and that's not going to change for existing development.

In summary, buy generator stock.

 

[mbsv]

Enforcement will be lax to non-existent, other than banning sales

our City's ban on gas-powered leaf blowers and weedeasters is worthless.

Enforcement of what? This rule only bans sales, and nothing else. Even if the enforced it completely including stopping people at the Ag checkpoints... it wouldn't affect people who already have generators.

 

[mikev]

Anyone defending this is pretty clueless.

The power goes out where I live constantly. We probably run the generator 20 to 30 days out of the year on average. Our generator is about 20 years old and running strong, but if it randomly blows up - then what? We have to drive to Reno to buy another one? The resellers out of state will be legally required to verify residence before selling them or face insane penalties, no doubt.

There just isn't an alternative. Our electrical infrastructure is fragile and that's not going to change for existing development.

In summary, buy generator stock.

Devil's advocate - for 20 years you've had the opportunity to come up with another method to have power, and haven't?

 

[Holeshot]

Like a stairmaster hooked to some batteries? Or a waterwheel?

 

[CABilly]

There are electric power banks that are getting better and better. And you can recharge them with solar or kinetic energy (good luck finding gas in a real bad disruption).

Gas generators are cheap and convenient but there are other options out there. As battery tech continues to improve it’ll be more viable option for homes.

 

[Eldritch]

No, I'm asking who you're talking about in the bolded statement below:

I mean, the definition is pretty clear? Anyone who lives in areas where the power goes out regularly and for whom solar systems (as many people are suggesting), are not possible.

 

[mikev]

So why don't they just move somewhere the power doesn't go out?

Isn't that the "advice" given to people that can't afford the cost of housing in certain places? Move somewhere cheaper?

Why is this different?