And for even more morning craziness:

[missroserose]

Apparently an avalanche came through early yesterday morning and knocked out our hydroelectric power lines. So the entirety of Juneau is on diesel for the next several months, which they have to barge in from the lower 48, which means our power prices are jumping from 11 cents per kw/h to at least 50.

On a more personal level, that means that (assuming no change in use) our power bill just jumped to $250 a month.

I have a distinct feeling that there's going to be a run on compact fluorescent light bulbs here in town. And that I'm going to be playing a lot less Oblivion and doing a lot more reading over the next few months...

The funny thing is, I'm not even upset about this. This whole morning has just been so strangely disastrous that I can't do anything except laugh over it...

Comments

[tygenco-x.livejournal.com]

Time to have lots of candle lit dinners that you can make over a wood-stove?
(At least it wasn't an eagle slamming into one of the lines again)
See, at least if the power's out up there, it's still cold enough to put some refridgerator items on a back deck or in an arctic entry most of the time. Same with freezer items at some points in the year, at least for short term storage if it's needed.
The heat here is a drawback so keeping the freezer and fridge minimally stocked seems to be a common thing.
But we also have gas stoves here, and I don't know of many houses in Juneau that have those. I'm actually getting used to being able to make hot soup when the power does go out around here... At any rate.
Here's hoping the snow will melt so the lines can get fixed sooner.

[roseneko.livejournal.com]

Well, we have power. The problem is, it's stemming from the diesel generators (like the power for the rest of rural Alaska), which means the cost is going up significantly. But yes, lots of candlelight dinners.

[syonyk.livejournal.com]

Does it become economical at some point soon to go back to lamp oil for evening lighting?

-=Russ=-

[roseneko.livejournal.com]

Fortunately, it's getting towards the time of year where the days are much longer than average, so it won't be as big of an issue. But we're probably going to use candles and such when possible.

[joyfulleigh.livejournal.com]

Gosh! The things those of us elsewhere in the country can't even fathom!

Sorry to hear that news, but glad that you weren't underneath the avalanche!!!

L.

[roseneko.livejournal.com]

*smiles* Thanks, although there wasn't too much danger of that. Snettisham (the lake that powers the plant) is several miles out from Juneau proper.

Every place has its quirks, though - globalization hasn't come that far. Alaska's might be a bit more extreme because of its remoteness, but I'm certain stuff happens in Virginia that folks here couldn't fathom. (Say, three-day revival meetings? ;)

[syonyk.livejournal.com]

So... other than insanely expensive power if the power lines go down, how is living in Alaska? I'm pondering where I want to go when I graduate in December (probably moving next summer if I do move), and wouldn't mind living somewhere truly strange for a few years. Alaska, Ireland, not sure yet. I'm sure my ferrets would love the winters.

-=Russ=-

[roseneko.livejournal.com]

Well, it depends. I like some things about it very much and other things not so much. Here are my experiences with the major cities:

Juneau's a great place to live if you want to be somewhere quiet but not too rural; especially if you're an outdoor enthusiast (there's no shortage of wilderness to hike/fish/camp in, plus one of the best ski areas in the world). The economy is pretty good, it being a gummint town, the state is the biggest employer. There's a real labor shortage, too, so finding a job isn't hard, especially if you have a degree or specialized skills. (That's pretty much the case all over Alaska, although there's a corresponding increase in rents. Plus just general cost of living - everything's a bit more expensive 'cos we have to get it up here, although that varies some depending on which city you're in.) Another thing to consider is the aging population; it means that younger folk are in a lot of demand for jobs but also means that there's not that much for us to do here, aside from the crappy movie theaters and the bars...there's a bit of a theatre/music scene but not anything huge. (Although the local professional theatre does put on some excellent shows.)

Anchorage is much more urban and big-city - a lot of people think it's more like the Lower 48 than the rest of Alaska, and I'd have to say my experience bears that out (although there are some lovely mountain views, and you can get to rural areas/wilderness with less than an hour's drive). Again, fairly easy to find a job, and there's a lot more in terms of nightlife and attractions, not to mention an excellent cinema selection. However, if you're looking for an "Alaskan Experience", you likely won't find it there.

Fairbanks is larger than Juneau but, paradoxically, it's a lot less interesting. It's in the middle of Alaska geographically, which means that it gets super-hot in the summer and super-cold in the winter. The university there is excellent, but there's really not much to do at all - it seems that, come winter, everyone holes up in their apartments and drinks. (Although admittedly, I was only there for a couple of years for college, and I didn't have a car so I didn't have much opportunity to look for things.)

If you really want a crazy Alaskan Experience, you could also look into Barrow - lethally cold temperatures in the winter, average temperature of 50 degrees in the summer, never-ending icy wind. But - you'd be able to brag that you'd lived as far north as you can get in the U.S. =)

[borismarkovich.livejournal.com]

Don't let her trick you! It's pure hell! :D

[errant-variable.livejournal.com]

Deny: BorisMarkovich: it's awesome if you like near-utter isolation and wind and are none to fond of trees.

Re: Fairbanks: only larger than Anchorage geographically - population is about 15% that of Anchorage.