Free Republic

Utility companies in the U.S. have disconnected customers an estimated 5.7 million times since 2020, according to a new report. The disconnections have come even as those companies have paid billions to shareholders and executives, according to a report published on Monday by the Center for Biological Diversity, BailoutWatch and the Energy and Policy Institute. “No one should ever have to choose between having food on the table and keeping the heat on,” Selah Goodson Bell, a campaigner with the Center for Biological Diversity’s energy justice program, said in a statement. “It’s inexcusable for utility executives and shareholders to profit...

Russia is poised to temporarily shut down the European Union’s single biggest piece of gas import infrastructure, stoking fears of a delayed or only partial return of gas supplies. Some fear the Kremlin could use planned maintenance works to turn off the taps for good. “If it doesn’t come back after maintenance because President Putin plays games or wants to hit Europe while it hurts, then the plan to fill up gas storage by the end of summer will probably not work,” said Eurasia Group’s Henning Gloystein.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said on Wednesday that he is authorizing the city to shut off utility service to properties where large parties and gatherings are held, CBS Los Angeles reports. Garcetti said that, starting Friday, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power will cut off water and power service in "egregious" cases where unpermitted large parties and gatherings take place. The announcement came hours after City Councilman David Ryu introduced a motion to increase penalties for property owners who hold large house parties in violation of public health orders. It wasn't clear whether Garcetti's announcement was related...

The power could be turned off as early as Sunday and into Monday morning. The move is an attempt to reduce wildfire danger and may impact several northern California cities. Kevin Dasso, vice president of electric asset management, said that safety was the agency’s top priority. “PG&E has a plan. We want our customers to have plans, too.”

How many freepers were OFFLINE in Florida for the last two hours? Most of my internet worked but free republic was 100% blocked My traceroute [v0.79] linux-1 (0.0.0.0) Thu Sep 16 12:31:14 2010 Packets Pings Host Loss% Snt Last Avg Best Wrst StDev 1. 192.168.1.1 0.0% 35 0.9 1.0 0.8 2.1 0.3 2. fl-71-55-0-1.dhcp.embarqhsd.net 5.7% 35 135.6 252.6 134.4 412.7 68.3 3. crflwnpk02 2.9% 35 147.9 252.5 125.2 363.7 58.1 4. 138.210.95.13 5.7% 35 158.2 260.5 129.5 361.1 53.5 5. xe-11-1-0.bar1.Orlando1.Level3.net 8.6% 35 172.6 297.2 158.7 417.6 68.1 6. ae-8-8.ebr1.Atlanta2.Level3.net 2.9% 35 184.3 290.3 165.0 431.2 64.3 7. ae-73-70.ebr3.Atlanta2.Level3.net 2.9%...

This story was posted yesterday with the title New Bill Gives Obama Kill Switch To Shut Down The Internet. Here's another article with a different slant on the bill. Turns out, it's causing lots of consternation abroad and I'm suddenly liking it a whole lot more.

by Wayne Lusvardi - Pasadena Sub Rosa An anonymous apparent insider to the backstage dealings of California's water crisis has alerted this blog to the real possibility that imported water could be shut off soon to Southern California's cities if the cities have the wrong type of landscaping (i.e., water thirsty home gardens). This shut off scenario could hit Southern California cities out of nowhere much like the world-wide financial meltdown appeared nearly overnight. And like the financial meltdown, it would be wise to listen to those who are furtively trying to give us an early warning signal of this...