Palatine's power too unreliable too long
The fire June 18 at the WINGS Resale shop was caused by lightning striking an electrical transformer.
Why do we permit this hazardous electrical equipment to be maintained above ground? To save money for the utilities like BP did with their drilling methods?
We need to examine the extensive electrical equipment including transformers and multiple overhead wires in certain areas of Palatine.
For some reason we have areas of heavy overhead wires and in some areas they are underground. Low hanging wires are crossing major roads (drive on Quentin Road between Dorset and Ellis); transformers are on telephone poles across the street from elementary and high schools; transformers are in front of residential and commercial buildings.
For years I have watched tree crews hired by ComEd butcher trees in the name of "clearing the branches to protect the wires."
Look at the trees on the west side of Quentin Road between Palatine Road and Illinois, they are ruined.
Drive Roselle Road between Illinois and Baldwin Road and see the trees that have been severely trimmed to the point that some are now being removed entirely.
Lastly, there are pockets of Palatine where the electrical reliability is so low that many people have their own gas generators.
Our power was out for 10 hours yesterday and the neighborhood echoed with the sounds of gas generators all night long.
Many homeowners in this area (Cannongate, Willow Walk) have come to expect service disruptions whenever storms with high winds come through.
Our neighbors on the east side of Borders Drive always have power and the west side of the street sits in the dark during every storm.
In August 2007 our power was out for 18 hours, our neighbor's basements flooded and the residential area behind us was without power for several days.
We need to examine the policies of Palatine toward above ground power utilities for safety, reliability and impact on the environment and the aesthetics of our community.
Richard Gylling
Palatine