It seems that there is more than a little building outrage over how miserably MetEd and PPL failed at restoring power and/or being prepared for this past weekend’s storm. The utilities are naturally denying that anything could have possibly prepared them for such a “catastrophic” (MetEd) and “unprecedented” (PPL) storm. This mentality really bothers the hell out of me, especially since both utilities are pushing a whopping 34.5% (or higher) rate hike in 2010, with multiple smaller rate hikes over the next two years.

MetEd is remaining silent (though I suspect they are preparing to issue a series of press releases announcing that “some customers lost power” and “9/11“). PPL is rushing to defend their response by calling this storm both “unprecedented” and equating it to Hurricane Isabel. But in reality, both companies are suffering the results of decades of poor planning and poor maintenance, and enjoying the protections afforded by being a monopoly.

Incidentally, Home Depot is selling a 5kW Coleman generator for $399 right now. 5kW isn’t a ton of juice, but it’ll be enough to power your gas furnace, fridge, and a few lights (or, if you’ve gone all-fluorescent like me, an entire house full of lights) at the same time. If run smartly, ten gallons of gas could give you a week’s worth of power. Far more expensive than utility power, but far cheaper than a fridge full of spoiled food and a house full of burst pipes.