There was also a truck parked below residences between Cherry and Peal Streets.

And between Bank and Cherry Streets

Good morning Amanda,
I am truly sorry that we missed you in the notification process for this outage. We have been planning it for about 2 months now and part of that planning is to notify all of the businesses & residences that would be affected. We did a mass mailing using all of the billing addresses in our system, which for an outage of this magnitude is typically the most effective way to reach everyone. We sent out over 277 letters notifying what we thought to be ALL of the customers that would be affected by this outage, which was scheduled for a 6 hour period. We try very hard not to miss anyone but sometimes our efforts come up short and we miss someone, such as yourself. We do sincerely apologize for that! As for your question about the time, unfortunately, this type of work can't be done during the day because of all of the businesses affected. They would experience a very large amount of lost revenue which would have to be reimbursed by none other than the ratepayers. It's a no win situation for all unfortunately. If we had a choice, we would prefer not to have our crews working at all hours of the night.
As for Front Porch Forum and other social media accounts that we have at our disposal, You are correct and I will take full responsibility for the fact that this outage notification did not get into any of those. Our communication Department receives notification of what we are doing and typically they will take the information I send and run with it. I assumed that they were doing that and I didn't follow up with them to be sure. For that I sincerely apologize!
We will be planning another outage that will affect this area again. If you send me your exact address I can tell if you are affected in the next outage, which will be no more than an hour long and will be done at 4am, we just don't have a date at this time. Also, if you supply me with your email address, I can add you to an email outage notification list and you will receive all notifications via email.
If you like you can send me your information via email: cchamberlain@burlingtonelectric.com

Please see comment above

I, too, have been disturbed by idle BED trucks idling needlessly. Cathy, could you post the relevant copy relating to idling from BED's vehicle policy manual, or post a link to it so we can verify that BED is taking responsibility for the efficient use of all our vehicles.

Good morning OldVtr,
Thank you for commenting. BED takes responsibility for the efficient use of all of our vehicles. You won't find a car or pick up truck that idles needlessly and if you do we want to know about it. However, in the case of our bucket & line trucks, in order for the hydraulic equipment to work properly, which it must to complete the job at hand, the trucks must be running. Also, whenever someone is working in a utility hole (we had 5 men in 5 holes this morning) and an emergency medical incident happens, the trucks need to be readily available to hoist a person out of the hole quickly and safely. This can only be accomplished if the truck is running. In the case of the outage downtown this morning, the crews were working in a very precarious underground system. A place where you or I would NOT want to be. Their safety is of the utmost importance to us and we will not compromise it under any circumstances.
Thank you again and have a great day!
.

Is there a written vehicle policy or does your posting represent the sum of the department's policy?

I will look into the written piece and report back. Our Safety Director confirmed that my posting represents the sum of the department procedures when doing electrical work that require the large bucket trucks and line trucks. Our tools and equipment operate from the hydraulics on the trucks which do not work if the trucks are not turned on.

Thanks, Cathy. As we say in the corner office, if it ain't written down it don't exist!

Cathy-- While awaiting your report back and per your request to be so informed, I'm posting to report that I happened upon Lineman Truck #3 sitting idling on St. Paul St. on 3 May at about 10:45-10:55 a.m. I could not find any "job at hand", save the apparent perusal of "hand"-held electronic devices, as a result of my adjacent five block-search. Does this follow department policy?

Hey Cathy--Any luck with the report back on the department's written vehicle idle policy? This morning I came upon Lineman Truck #6 idling extensively on Church St. between Main and King at about 10:40 without any signs of work in progress in the area. We're currently having some nice, Goldilocks weather, so no need for a/c, defrosting, or heat and no work-related hydraulics in use. Whatever course of action, if any, has been taken following the May 7th posting seems not to have had any effect upon the crew of Truck #6.

Good Friday Afternoon SaintPauliGirl,
We do not have a written policy. As I stated prior, when we are working the trucks need to be running for the hydraulics to work. However, when there is no work in site they should not be idling. The Distribution Superintendent will speak to all of the crews at the weekly meeting about unnecessary idling.
If you see this again, please reach out to us. My direct number is 865-7463.
Have a great weekend and stay cool.

closed for now

I've re-opened for now and posted one video of an idling BED truck without evidence of any nearby BED activity or work site which necessitates operation of hydraulics or if "an emergency medical incident happens". I'm hoping that such video footage, in lieu of a written, enforced department policy on idling, hand-held device use, smoking, et cetera with and within department vehicles may help the department establish such a written policy and I in no way intend to single out employees who have been working in an environment without an understanding with management of what is the "responsibility for the efficient use of all of our vehicles": https://youtu.be/3HOQd3VmOq4

Thanks

Acknowledged! Thank you

Per your request I'm relaying that I watched as solitary Lineman Truck # 6 idled for more than 10 minutes (until I wearied of the spectacle) on the south side of Pearl St (facing west just north of the Richardson Building) with orange cones placed behind it with both driver and passenger apparently idle in the idling truck, no obvious work in progress within a block in any direction and no hydraulics in use on the morning 14 July.

Also, after viewing the YouTubeVideo posted (https://youtu.be/3HOQd3VmOq4) of the idling BED truck, at around 1:12 min. in I was also prompted to question what is the Department's vehicle policy with regard to electronic device use and smoking in the city's vehicles? Are employees now using handheld electronic devices for work-related tasks or subjected to tobacco smoke from within work vehicles? Is vehicle use policy being addressed in contract negotiations currently underway?

Thanks!

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