PGE power outage

[eth2oski]

If I have generator or UPS on my computer and modem will the internet service still be live?

[CCAndrew]

I don’t think so, the nodes all use power, Comcast would have to have generators all over just like you plan to(just like in a storm situation). I’ll escalate it and maybe we can get official word from an employee. Good luck and stay safe.

[RobertWy]

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@eth2oski wrote:

If I have generator or UPS on my computer and modem will the Internet service still be live?

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I live in Houston and we have gone through many storms and hurricanes since we got our Internet from TimeWarner/Comcast in 1982.

If the cable company loses power, you don't get a signal.  It only makes sense.

We now have a gas standby generator and we have power but when the TV companies lose power, we obviously can't even get a signal from our TV antenna.

[EG]

The headends are *supposed* to have backup generators and the plant / line actives are *supposed* to have battery backups to keep the phone service (not the internet) operating during a power outage. How well they are being maintained is another story. YMMV......

[Comcast_Support · Accepted solution]

Hi there, eth2oski. Thanks for posting! If our nodes lost power, you having your own generator would unfortunately not keep the service up or on. It would be nice if it worked that way, but the area that feeds service to your home/neighborhood (node) is what would need to have power and/or the generator to restore/continue that service supply. 

[rad-b]

I can confirm no internet with the power outage, what bothers me is that both AT&T and Verizon run generators on thier network (Cell towers and possibly home network) while Xfinity lacks the ability to do this.   If other carriers can handle prolong outages Xfinity surely could update their system to maintain some communication during an outage event.  

[CCAndrew]

There’s a big difference between cell towers and nodes and the ability to have someone on site with those generators 24/7 (they don’t leave them unmanned) while this special outage is going on. This is affecting hundreds of thousands, a lot different than a simple neighborhood outage

Doesn’t look AT&T is doing so good
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sfchronicle.com/business/amp/PG-E-outage-Spotty-cell-service-in-Son...

[BuckyKatt]

We have a generator that handles the entire house and Comcast Went down as soon as PG&E cut the power.  We have not had internet service since they cut the power.  Very unhappy.  Was never told that Comcast is affected by PG&E service.  Power out for 3 days now.  Having to use data on cell service.

[jimw44]

I live in California in an area considered high wildfire danger area. PG&E just turned off our power for 2+ days and indications that this is the new normal.

No one at Comcast told me that I would lose phone, internet and TV in a power outage. We have a generator so I did NOT EXPECT to lose all Comcast services. Thank God for cell phones. What do you plan on doing about this??? I'm certain you will hear from more customers than just me. You better have an answer or I'm sure most if not ALL of the 800,000 homes will be looking for alternatives!!

Thank God for cellphones - I also have Xfinity cellphones but, again Thank God, they use Verizon towers which have BACK-UP POWER, just like my house.

[lesmikesell]

I'm pretty sure that when I signed up for Comcast phone service that somewhere in the contract it mentioned that it was subject to power outages.  Maybe California is different or you didn't read the whole thing that you signed.

[AGLakeLife]

This whole Public Safety Power Shutdown situation is the new normal for NorCal and all of us are having to buy generators to power our homes and businesses.  Comcast Xfinity needs to address this as a continuity of service issue and find ways to energize their system during these times as well.  

We have a 22 kw generator and literally everything in our home works, with the exception of our internet.  This is completely unacceptable, and Xfinity mis going to have to adapt their systems with more battery backup, or generators to ensure paying customers aren't without service.