There’s a new apparent normal in the Bay Area. October means warmer weather, and now, fire season. In a proactive attempt to prevent fires, PG&E, the Bay Area’s utility company, is strategically cutting power to many homes. Being without power is bad enough during normal times, but right before, or during a move, a potential disaster – or is it?
The Good
Okay, having your power cut off is never a good thing, but when moving, there are worse things that could happen. Despite our digital age, moving is still one of the most analog industries. During blackouts, that’s very good. One could even argue that no power equals no distractions. Grab some boxes, some tape, some packing paper, and pack. Be careful if you want to pack by candlelight. Grab some earbuds and crank up the tunes.
You’ll want to use up as much food as possible before your move. You can still cook if you have a gas stove. If you don’t, fire up the barbecue.
The Bad
No light could make it harder to pack. Cleaning dark drawers and closets can be challenging. While music makes packing easier, you might not be able to spare battery life. Charge your phones in your car, if you can.
The Ugly
You know most of the ugly. If you have an electric stove, it can be impossible to cook that food you desperately need to use up. If you have an electric water heater, you might want to shower and dry your hair at the gym.
The biggest inconvenience happens after the move, when the lack of power makes cleaning almost impossible. If you rent, ask your landlord if you can have a few days extension. Ideally, you should take care of everything needing electricity in advance. Vacuum regularly, especially before a planned blackout. If you need to have the carpet cleaned, do that before the move.
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