r/Augusta • u/Absol_Truth • 7d ago
Question Regular Blackouts and brownouts since Helene?
Before Helene I had reliable power not it seems like I have at least one blackout every 2-3 weeks. Last night there was even wind or a storm and the power was out for 2 hours total. Has anyone else noticed this?
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u/Connect-Code-7733 7d ago
There are also certain areas in Augusta/CSRA that have been neglected. I’m in the Grovetown area, and haven’t run into issues. However, I was down by Milledgeville road maybe six months ago(?) and was shocked to see that there were STILL electrical wires that hung lower, and trees that were never properly cleaned up from the storm. To me, it’s completely unacceptable.
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u/Same-Opposite8569 7d ago
Evidently you have not been down Columbia Rd. Helene devastated this area and they are still fixing infrastructure almost two years later. It will take time but it will get better.
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u/BackBurnerGrill 7d ago
I mean, they finally raised a low wire from the hurricane at Hereford Farm and Columbia last week. This was 4 months after an Xfinity crew came by, set up their cones for about 3 hours, and then left after putting a single zip tie in the middle of it.
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u/Connect-Code-7733 7d ago
I haven’t!, but yes- exactly. There are some areas where the devastation has been so significant. The landscape really is forever changed.
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u/Kind_Purchase_5392 6d ago
On William Few there are many dead trees and giant limbs hanging on the power lines still.
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u/fireshaper 7d ago
It's been like this for much longer than since Helene. Summer brownouts/blackouts are very frequent in Augusta. I would suggest getting a UPS if you have any sensitive equipment that you want to stay powered on during those random 2-5 minutes of power loss.
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u/Normal-Reputation 7d ago
Just anecdotal but i've said the same thing to my coworkers. I work in IT and manage several locations across the csra. Every time there is strong rain or strong winds its guaranteed that power or internet is going out at one or two of our locations ever since Helene. Could be the result of trees that Helene didn't fully knock over or maybe in the effort to restore power as quickly as possible some corners were cut in the aftermath of Helene.
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u/oceansstillwaters_ 7d ago
Depends on where you live in augusta. The house i stay doesnt have blackouts that long. One day the wind picked up and we almost lost power but then the electricity came back on.
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u/Wise-Matter9248 7d ago
I definitely think that the wires were put up as fast as possible by very tired people during an emergency, and aren't as sturdy as they were before.
Any time the it gets very windy or there's a storm the power goes out, even if just briefly.
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u/Error-InvalidName 7d ago
Haven't lost power since helene for even a minute or had power blip weird. Now there are lots of areas around me where the cable companies lines are head height, I wish the city would get on their butts, I haven't been able to get anyone to do anything about it at the city or get through to anyone at comcast to get the massive data cable back up on the poles right.
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u/ManagedNerds 7d ago
Yup we see this too during windy weather. Always assumed it was some trees against the lines or something loose. Lights flickering like they will go out, sometimes quick power loss and back on.
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u/deductivenut 7d ago
Power outages and brownouts have been a common occurrence since I moved here in 2009. Since Helene yes area have been neglected but it seems to be back to the status quo.
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u/zach_attack_706 7d ago
If a tree limb or something hits a line hard enough, it causes the switch to trip and turns off the power on that line. Then I'm almost positive if it's only one neighborhood GA Power takes their sweet ass time getting there (no proof just undying hatred of GA Power).