Progress Energy has never been my friend.  They are simply a necessary evil.  Two weeks ago we got a letter stating that they were going to be changing all of their customers over to digital meters.  According to their little love note I would experience a brief power outtage in the near future and then all would be well with the world.

My brief power outtage occurred Friday morning.  My trouble, however, began a little less than 24 hours later.  Our extended, intermittent power outtage is in progress and we hope will be ending prior to time to close on this house.

I got up yesterday morning and got ready to go to the airport to pick up Dana.  Everything in the house seemed fine.  I had lights.  I had hot water.  I had cold diet coke.  When we returned from the airport life was not so pleasant.  We had some lights.  We had no hot water and my diet coke supply would be warming due to no power to the refridgerator.  To make matters worse I had about 8 people en route to my house to help unload the attic (a  job the movers were refusing to do).  Thankfully the attic light was one of the few lights that actually was working so that job was still on schedule.

Dana called Lack of Progress Energy and spoke to their operator person who wasn’t very helpful.  Eventually someone came out and said that when the company put the new meter on the house they messed up some connector and that they would fix it.  I thought this would be done in a timely manner… but not so.  PE (Progress Energy) employee contacted PE subcontractor.  PE employee then left.  PE subcontractor came out and said he needed PE subcontractor #2 to do the job and for PE employee to return to cut off full power to the house. PE subcontractor #1 cuts part of our power off for safety and then leaves.  PE subcontractor #2 arrives a few hours later and PE employee still hasn’t cut full power to the house.  PE operator states that he’s on calls, etc.  But… this is not true.  Each time we see PE employee he’s dressed for dinner, hanging around the house, keeps changing his clothes… this guy is on call but he’s at home…. he’s answering calls when he gets inspired. It takes PE employee about another hour to get to the house and cut the power for PE subcontractor #2 to begin work. 

Subcontractor #2 discovers that something has gone terribly wrong and the installation of the new meter either cut wires or caused some sort of a meltdown (literally) as wires, metal brackets, etc are in a melted mess and, at times, sparks are flying from the box.  In other words, AG and I are quite blessed that the house did not catch on fire Friday night as it apparently was a very real possibility.

Subcontractor #2 spends an extended amount of quality time with us fixing this box and then needs PE employee to return to turn the power back on.  This takes another hour or so.  Finally, just after dark, the power is on, things seem to be working, etc.  Life will be returning to normal…. or maybe not.

It is quite warm here in Florida this weekend and Dana offered to go turn the a/c on.  He turned it on.  He waited, messed around with the thermostat, etc.  Nothing.  The a/c was working fine Friday afternoon and night.  Theories abound as to why is isn’t working but the concensus seems to be that there may be a breaker or fuse inside the a/c unit that blew when the meltdown occurred.  Subcontractor #2 and our usual a/c guy are coming tomorrow. 

I’m just thrilled to be doing all of these repairs, etc while trying to move out of this house.  Thankfully Progress Energy is accepting responsibility and paying for all repairs.  We’re just having to deal with the aggravation.  Dana is here until tomorrow and that’s when all the repair folks return to diagnose the new a/c problem.  I just hope they get finished up because Dana leaves tomorrow night and I can’t be sitting around here for hours waiting for PE employees to do what is needed so that their poor little subcontractors can start working.

On a positive note, we did get our attic unloaded. So, one big job for the move is completed.