TXU & Oncor Energy Service Sucks

Well, I had me a fine, fun Sunday morning. Sometime around 9 this morning my second computer monitor went blank just as I Googled "Bull Freeway" looking for a picture of the bull that terrorized my neighborhood yesterday, shutting down I-30 for an hour or so.

I thought my monitor had died. About 20 minutes later I noticed the little battery power icon was on. It was then I realized the power was out.

This was a bit unusual, as there was no storming going on, no wind, no lightning, nothing.

After about an hour I opened my latest TXU bill and called the number for reporting a power outage. After having a real fine time wading through the TXU auto phone tree deal that uses voice recognition, I finally came to the part where I was asked to say my Zip Code.

I say the Zip Code and am told that Oncor Energy takes care of outages in my area and that I needed to call them to report the outage.

Huh?

Would you not think that since it is TXU that I pay for my electricity that when I call TXU to tell them the power is out that TXU would take it from there? And notify Oncor if that is what is needed?

So, I called Oncor. Another auto phone tree thing. Only this time it said it did not recognize my phone number and to please enter my phone number or my EID number that can be found on my bill.

I hung up.

Then I looked at the bill til I found the EID number. It was very very small and about 30 digits.

I called Oncor back, got to the enter the EID number part and it told me to enter the last 7 digits.

I entered the 7 digits and was then told that the outage had been reported and that a crew was working on the problem.

By then it was around 11. I got out of here and headed to the Tandy Hills for some peaceful relaxation. It was chaos going through my neighborhood powerless traffic lights.

About an hour later I got a call telling me the power was back on.

Now, how did it come to pass that you don't call the business you are paying for your electricity, when that electricity is not being delivered?

Very annoying.

Texas Home Invasion Saves Energy

I've had me 2 days in a row of my peace being disturbed by home invasions. It has not been quite as bad as being at my little sister's in Tacoma when roofers ripped off her roof and put a new one on to the loud disapproval of a pair of highly vigilant poodles.

Yesterday I had those AT & T people in here doing all sorts of things. While that was going on there were people in the attic making a racket doing stuff with seals and insulation.

This morning the doors got attacked from the outside with this thick insulation that makes it hard to shut and lock the door. By noon the interior of this place was invaded by a crew of 4 or 5. I came back here, at that time, to find all the lights on, a guy standing in my tub, another on a ladder in the kitchen, all vents and plug covers off and another guy stuck halfway inside the vent hole under the furnace/AC unit.

I had to get out of here, so I went over to Miss Puerto Rico's and used her computer and sat on her balcony watching humanity pass below me. And then a downpour started up that lasted over an hour. I was trapped. When the rain finally let up I ran back here to find 3 people still in here. But they were soon gone.

I thought it was over. But then about 3pm there was a loud knocking on the door. I opened it to find 2 guys with all sorts of paraphernalia. A huge fun, several meters, ladders and, most disturbing, a giant bright orange plastic thing with a hole in it. You can see the two tester guys and their giant bright orange plastic thing in the photo, as well as some of their paraphernalia.

They were in here to seal off the place and then test it for leaks to make sure the previous crew got everything airtight and energy efficient. So, the tester guys sealed up all the vents and then put the big orange plastic thing with a hole in it covering the door.

When they got everything sealed up then the fun started. The first test created a vacuum as this big fan thing sucked the air out of here and out the hole in the big orange plastic thing. That test passed.

Then it was reversed and the big fan thing pressurized the air in here. It passed that test too. The tester guy told me if I opened the sliding patio door there'd be a big whoosh. So I opened it and there was a big whoosh.

As far as I know this was the last of the home invasions. I hope.

This home invasion, energy saving improvement was brought courtesy TXU/Oncor. I'm sure I'll be very grateful when I find it easier to stay warm this winter.