Electricity

[flexibeast]

There have been many demonstrations in recent years of the vulnerability of the US power grid, but i wasn't aware until today that the Australian grid is also very vulnerable to massive failure: the same fire that is burning near my parents' place has apparently tripped a switch on the line carrying power from New South Wales to Victoria, and, combined with today's 39°C/102°F temperatures, and the consequent high usage of air conditioning, the Victorian power grid has suffered massive failures.

Power was out here for about three and a half hours; although it's back on here now, it's not back on three blocks away at sacred_harlot's house. Although trams and trains were apparently temporarily halted, trams are supposedly now running normally, and trains are running with ~20 minute delays. (This is on top of the overcrowding that has been occurring on Melbourne trains of late due to numerous carriages being taken out of service as a result of brake problems - trains were failing to stop at stations. :-| )

Water shortages, electricity shortages, transport shortages, and no shortage of fires (over 1,000,000 hectares have been burnt thus far) - it's all happening here in Victoria. :-/