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Original poster

No electricity since 03.30 a.m

130 replies

Nopowerflower · 21/10/2021 15:54

We had a power cut at 03.30 this morning and still don’t have electricity. UK power network keeps pushing back the time power will be restored. They are now estimating 9.30 p.m.

My DS is at home with Covid which means we are all self isolating and can’t even leave the house to get a hot drink.

We are all freezing. DH and I both working from home but obviously without WiFi couldn’t do our jobs. My manager made me take today as annual leave.

I am so so angry. DS is really suffering with Covid & I couldn’t even make him a hot drink or meal. It’s getting colder even with all the blankets we have. I rang UK power network and asked about emergency generator they said no we just have to wait it out.

Can’t face more hours of sitting in the cold with no idea when power will come back on. All our phones are about to die as we haven’t been able to charge them so can’t even watch anything on phone.

Thoroughly fed up.

OP posts:
Didicat · 21/10/2021 22:02

This is the sole reason I am getting a log burner installed is the fear of long term electricity outage as everything in this house is electric!

HalzTangz · 21/10/2021 22:05

Do you all have covid symptoms or just your son. If the latter the rest don't need to isolate, so one could pop out for drinks. Do one of you drive that could go through McDonald's drive through, hot drinks and hot food

Blankspace4 · 21/10/2021 22:10

I think OP is getting a really hard time here!!

I don’t know a single person who has a back up generator or would ‘make provisions’ for a long power cut!

I’m most likely tempting fate but the longest I can ever remember is about an hour.

Terrible when you are feeling poorly too. I do hope it’s back on soon and certainly in time for the morning. Plenty of blankets tonight!!!

BrieAndChilli · 21/10/2021 22:14

There’s been lots in the need about possible planned power cuts in the U.K. over the winter as we do not have enough fuel stored and if we have a few low wind days they may have to turn the power off to various areas, maybe ok a rota basis.

With that possibility looming over us it would be prudent for everyone to make sure that have a couple of back up plans.

We have a wood burner (moved this year and the nee house has one). This means if no power and heating we can warm up the lounge at least and could heat water/bake some jacket spuds etc

We have a couple of camping stoves and canisters of gas - we camp regularly so have them but will make sure gas etc is stocked up

We have a gas hob and an electric oven so if one of the utilities goes out we can use the other

We have 2 showers 1 electric and 1 from the hot water tank so should have a washing option either way.

We have phone bank chargers and will make sure they are fully charged

Our landline is a £5 phone that doesn’t need electric so if power goes we still have access to a phone if mobiles run out of power

We have camping lanterns, hear torches and candles plus batteries

HalzTangz · 21/10/2021 22:16

@Minniem2020

Was about 15 years ago now but we lost power for 5 days one February due to the bad snow. God it was awful. Thankfully we had a coal fire so at least a bit of heat but having to leave that room wasn't fun. I feel for you op
I remember that, we had a coal fire, gas cooker and for some bizarre reason my dad had a huge box of candles. We were the only house that had a gas cooker, so we did everyone's meals, or let them use our cooker. We also shared the candles out. That was a long long 5 days
hotmeatymilk · 21/10/2021 22:40

Hope the OP’s phone has died so she doesn’t have to read about how well-prepared and warm other posters are. I’m sure after this she’ll go out and buy battery packs and camping stoves and tinfoil prepper hats but since that’s in the future it’s not entirely helpful

RedRiverShore · 21/10/2021 22:45

Could you charge up your phone using the car battery, some cars have a usb slot, you might need to drive it a bit

Pencilandpaper · 21/10/2021 22:51

How old is yous son, Op?

RampantIvy · 21/10/2021 22:53

@user1493494961

Why are you so cold, it's not the middle of winter.
It has been single figure temperature where I live all day. When you are ill, and have no means of getting properly warm just putting on another jumper doesn't help.

@Nopowerflower I'm sorry that so many smug posters have been unkind. I hope you get your power back soon.

We used to have a lot of power cuts in our last house, and this is the reason why I will continue to cook with gas, and have a gas fire.

Lonecatwithkitten · 21/10/2021 23:03

I think we do have to go back to being prepared for power cuts. my parents live in a rural low population area and a couple of years ago a substation blew up - it took two weeks to instal a new one their entire village was out for that time. They would drive to my sisters 7 miles away each day for a shower, used their camping stove and oil lamps. They also went to the cinema some nights to watch a film and keep warm as this was in November.

NotMyCat · 21/10/2021 23:53

It's shit when it's a long time
I still remember a power cut that must be 30 years ago, in the snow. We had a wood burner, and I was about 5 and sleeping in my parents bed to keep warm. After 4 days I got shipped off to a friends as I was blue with the cold and I remember how warm and bright the house was!
It was so bloody cold

DerAlteMann · 22/10/2021 01:03

@NotBabiesForLong

If your neighbours have power, are you certain you still have a powercut?

The power surge could have tripped your fuse too and you haven't noticed to switch it on.

Quite possible that the OP is out while her neighbours aren't. Where we are the two sides of our street are on different circuits. One side can have a power cut with the other still blazing away. Never seen both sides out together (yet). As for temperatures, we're in the south of England and it is freezing here tonight. Cars have frost on them.
Biancadelrioisback · 22/10/2021 06:45

Christ, reading mn sometimes is like reading the Four Yorkshire Men script.

SpindelWhorl · 22/10/2021 07:11

OP has said there is a group of about a dozen houses without power.

It's a shame the ones with power didn't notice and start offering some help. I'd gladly assist, charge people's phones up, lend out my camping stove, offer hot water etc. But maybe in OP's case none of them know each other or there's a parking war going on or something.

I grew up with frequent power cuts. Awful things. I hate them even more now because we lose wifi and the boiler. At least when I was a kid we had coal fires and it was pre-internet!

Florin · 22/10/2021 07:24

If you are still without power ask uk power networks for money to cover a takeaway. We didn’t even ask for it but they told us to get a takeaway and they would send us a Cheque for £40 to cover it (2 adults and a child).

mummymayhem18 · 22/10/2021 07:32

I hope your power comes back on today if it hasn't already 🤞

kirinm · 22/10/2021 07:40

@rwalker

I work for one of the utilities you really have no idea of the complexity of issues in getting you back on line .

Funny enough when we reconnect people it somehow tends to be the ones with shit attitudes and been out giving us grief that seem to be the last to get back on line .

She's entitled to be pissed off. She's has no power for hours and hours. I think it's fair enough to have an attitude about it especially if UKPN have an attitude like yours.
Karwomannghia · 22/10/2021 07:42

OP hope your power is back on. If you’re unwell with bad colds you should ring in sick! Don’t lose money because of loss of power. If you’re well enough to work can they offer office space?

Porfre · 22/10/2021 07:45

Even of my kid had covid. I'd go to a family members house and stay there until its sorted.

But hope your electricity is sorted by now

PurBal · 22/10/2021 07:48

I understand you’re frustrated and I hope your power is back on but they will be prioritising large outages and the extremely vulnerable. Eg those with medical equipment (that require electricity to work and who could die without it), those with infants (babies who need bottles making) etc. Unfortunately your son being ill won’t be high enough up the list.

Ellmau · 22/10/2021 11:37

me and DH have been jabbed but we both have colds from hell so not feeling great.

Have you been tested? I currently have Covid (LFT was negative but PCR positive) and my symptoms present as a bad cold...

Original poster
Nopowerflower · 22/10/2021 11:39

Just incase anyone is still interested, we still have no power. UK Power Network started digging a hole in the road at about 11 last night but obviously there is a major problem as despite them working on it now it’s still not fixed.

Someone rang me last night from UK Power Networks to ask how I was! Very nice of her but of course she couldn’t help. She said she will send a cheque for £30 which will arrive in 10 working days.

A kind neighbour let some of us charge our phones & filled up a hot water bottle for DS.

DH and I have had to take unpaid leave but I’m just feeling resigned about it all to be honest. I asked again about emergency generator but the woman said they are all in use. She even went as far as to say “continuous electricity is not a right”.

Can’t take another day and night of the cold & not being able to have a hot shower so DH is going to book us into a hotel if it’s not back on soon. DS has Covid but surely this counts as an emergency.

Just can’t believe over 24 hours later me and my neighbours are still in this position.

OP posts:
MatildaIThink · 22/10/2021 11:41

@Didicat

This is the sole reason I am getting a log burner installed is the fear of long term electricity outage as everything in this house is electric!
It would make more sense to get solar panels and a Powerwall.
MrsKeats · 22/10/2021 11:44

Could you get in a car to get warm? Get a hot drink from a drive through?

worriedatthemoment · 22/10/2021 11:51

Also you loose all your food in fridge when off to long and potentially freezer

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