Here we go again...

[amynnah.livejournal.com]

Dear Users,

If you can't turn on your PC because we're in the middle of a power outtage due to too many people running heat because it's 4 degrees outside not including the windchill, with the electric company trying to figure out how to fix this epic fail, it's not our fault.

We didn't pull the plug on your PCs. See the lights? No? Because they're off? That might mean lack of power.

Please sit down, drink a martini, and relax. It'll be back on soon.

/signed,
The Helldesk Tech Monkey.

Comments

[nem0.livejournal.com]

Your office obviously needs this beer more than mine does. Feel free to raid the fridge.

[agmlego.livejournal.com]

There is that much electric heat in your area? That is kind of weird. Not unheard of, but weird.

--
"Memento Mori Ergo Carpe Diem"

[bamatone.livejournal.com]

Half of my office overloaded a circuit a couple of days ago because of an employee's space heater (which is against the rules). My cube didn't have power for over 3 hours. Which was fine with me. :)

[rev-thumper.livejournal.com]

I have always been amazed at how many people don't understand that a computer needs electricity to work.

Our users are hopelessly confused because we have 20 minutes of battery backup for parts of the wired network with VOIP phones and wireless APs.

[mightyj.livejournal.com]

I worked in an old building with poor heat and substandard wiring. I get a call on a Saturday that the computers won't stay up because the space heaters keep tripping the circuit breaker. Naturally I tell them to turn off the space heaters. They were then upset with me because I'm making them work without heat; for some odd reason they felt that I, the IT person, was responsible for the heat and the electrical wiring. I told them if it was a problem they should take it up with my boss (who was their boss'es boss). Of course, I already knew what his response would be ;)

[wolfhound668.livejournal.com]

I can top it. The facilities guys at the company I left last year tested the generator backup after hours one day after an email was sent out that nothing but computers were to be plugged into the orange outlets. The next day we were informed that they found four space heaters plugged into orange outlets and running. This was in august.

I can vouch from personal experience that several women (always women) would run them all year long.

[mightyj.livejournal.com]

We were always begging people to plug the space heaters into the wall sockets instead of power strips. I came across one power strip where the fuse had melted (without tripping!) because of the space heater plugged into it.

The HVAC system in this office was so poor that the farther you away from the front windows you were, the colder it was especially in the summer time. I personally ran a space heater year round under my desk on the 5th floor as did most of the guys on the 3rd floor. Another funny thing about this building was that the higher the floor you were on the colder it was.

[billysapphire.livejournal.com]

Has happened to me in my company too. Of course, they were mad at me because I have a UPS on my PC so I can start shutting down servers, etc (some of them cannot be set to shut themselves down when the main UPS kicks in)
It amazed me. What am I supposed to do, call the president of Ga Power and have someone out there now? We are in the middle of an industrial area and are certainly not the largest consumer in the area.

I had to tell one lady, "when the power goes out at home, can you turn your TV on?" after a few moments of this, she finally got it.

[ptstech.livejournal.com]

My last company's solution was as follows:

1. Company-wide email directing all heater users to use non-orange outlets.
2. Overnight confiscation (by Facilities) of all offending units.
3. ?
4. PROFIT!