Health & Fitness
Is the Gilligan's Island Cast Working at the Crystal River 3 Nuclear Power Plant?
Bad decisions turn an $81 million repair job into a $2.5 billion problem. These decisions mean you'll pay more for electricity.
Do you remember a TV show about a bunch of castaways that could never get off of a deserted island?
The show was called Gilligan's Island and every week it seemed the star, Gilligan, always found some way to sabotage the rescue plans and keep everyone stranded on the island for another week.
That show aired for three years and longer in syndication. Since it was never really explained what happened to the survivors you might wonder what happened to all of them. Well could it be that the Gilligan's Island cast was somehow rescued and found work at Progress Energy's Crystal River 3 Nuclear Power Plant.
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In September 2009 this plant was shut down "temporarily" to replace some aging steam generators. When generators are replaced it is usually done two ways, either via a hatch that is built into the containment wall or by cutting a hole through the side of the containment wall. Progress Energy sought RFP's for what would seem like a highly complex and technical job and got two replies.
When the lowest bid of $81 million arrived in the Manila folder the executives on mahogany row probably began thinking creatively and summoned the Gilligan cast for a stay at a Holiday Inn Express to rehearse and see what would happen next.
Find out what's happening in Clearwaterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm-h7YR_410&feature=related
Waking up refreshed the next morning with new-found knowledge, and a belly full of complimentary pancakes; the cast probably scurried down to the local Uncle Bob's Tool Barn to get the latest cement carving essentials like sledge hammers, chisels, and drills.
Sneaking past the snoozing Nuclear Regulatory Commission guards, the cast got busy and went to work. It didn't take long for the results to come in and who could have ever imagined this cast would strike gold again! For this adventure Nielsen ratings don't even have to be considered.
Just like the usual Gilligan's Island episode plot this in-house repair project has now been completely mis-managed, bungled and is now projected to go from a mere $81 million to $2.5 billion to fix. You can bet that bonuses, job security, raises and all good things are happening at Progress Energy now thanks to this in-house money-saving project.
Unfortunately, you'll probably be paying for this little experiment through higher rates now and for many, many years to come. Sometime ago Progress Energy probably acquired Gilligan's Island repair protection insurance and hopes to send part of the fix-it tab to the insurance company. Naturally when and if the insurance company gets wind of this premiums will surely increase. You're not the only one that knows what happens when the Gilligan's Island cast works together on a complex problem.
Conveniently, under Florida law utility companies can't suffer any financial consequences for self-induced and self-inflicted mistakes. This means you get to pick up the insurance premium increases later on. If you want to complain you can contact the Public Service Commission, but conveniently under Florida law the PSC isn't required to listen to you. You can try the governor but .
Maybe the Gilligan's Island cast has been working in Florida for longer than we know. Still laughing?
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