Power cuts...

[88Pandora88]

So planned power cuts, I read they're planning various cuts at different times for different power groups.
How is everyone planning for this (fingers crossed it won't happen but with 2 young kids, I'd rather be prepared)
Torches? Candles, hot water bottles etc?

What about the fridge.. How we we prevent food from spoiling, especially meat and milk etc. Power outages are said to be 3 hours, will food keep that long without power, or is it worth having blocks of frozen water to put in fridge to help keep cool?

Fire away with any and all suggestions of how to deal with the possible power cuts.

I’ve also read that there won’t be cuts, so best not to panic.

I have bought low lumen head torches for my Mum and my inlaws. Safer than candles. Fridges/freezers will fine as long as the doors are opened constantly. My mum has bought a thermos so she can put hot water in it just in case she wants a drink (she likes warm water to drink). Fingers crossed none of them will be needed.

How is that helpful.

OP If we do have power outages (which I doubt we will) the food in your fridge and freezers will be fine for longer then 3 hours as long your are not opening and closing the door.

We have these lanterns. Mainly as I don't like candles around children.

There's been about 10 threads on this full of useful tips if you search

I already have a flask in the cupboard. I can charge stuff prior. I might nap!

Well let’s check where you heard this first before I dig the head torch out. Links please.

I actually think it is helpful as these type of threads, of which there are many if you search them before making another thread, cause a lot of anxiety to some people.

People will be fine if they use a bit of common sense

There won't be power cuts. Or only of several extremely unlikely situations happen at the same time.

It's been all over all media that there MIGHT be planned power cuts

Which is a statement of fact not any kind of indication of likelihood. Some people prepare for all kind of things that might happen , others don't. No one has said there WILL be power cuts

We had one last night because of the storm and we were lost!

No internet. No TV. No lights!

Gonna get some battery powered lights in just in case but apart from that there isn’t much else you can do.

Your freezer and fridge will be fine for 3 hours.

As long as you keep the doors closed and not continuously opening them

The energy companies have said that it is highly likely that there will be planned power cuts over the winter. Their current plan is that each area will be divided into 8 sub areas with each sub area having 3 hours without power in a 24 hours period. They are encouraging care home providers to get the homes put on a priority list so that they will be notified when outages are planned so they can prep for their vulnerable residents.

I’ve bought a couple of extra torches and have dug out my camping lanterns from the camping box, that’s about the extent of my planning!

From camping days we have a camping gaz lantern so I bought some refills for that; also one of those small square gas burners and I got butane canisters for that too. (We have a gas hob, but it’s old and I can’t remember if the gas shuts off when ignition isn’t working - it did on the previous one)
We had head torches already, & thermoses, and always have some scented candles/tea lights in. Will keep phone power packs charged up.
That’s about it.

There was at least one very long thread about this the other day.
As someone who lives in a rural (ish) area where lots of the power cables are overhead, we have frequent unplanned power cuts. Believe me you will survive if the power is off for 3 hours. We were off for 4 days after Storm Arwen.

Get yourself some pull up/stand up LED lanterns and a supply of batteries and you'll be fine. Your fridge/freezer won't be an issue (as long as you don't keep opening the door).
And if you've got a burglar alarm, make sure your back up battery has been replaced in the last few years otherwise you're buglar alarm will ring and annoy both you and the neighbours!

Just Google it, loads of reports coming out of possible power cuts planned for Jan and Feb

@RudsyFarmer
The National Grid - earlier this month.

Just keep fridge and freezer doors shut and food will be fine with a three hour power cut.

Fire alarms! I need advice on that.

We have main powered fire alarms. Had to disconnect both yesterday because they beeped due to the power being off

Obviously, I will reconnect them but I’m not happy I had to take them off in the first place

Oh wow that must have been crazy! I'm lucky to have never been in a power cut situation before so just trying to be prepared. Thanks for the tips 😊

We used to get them all the time, they did something to upgrade locally a few years ago and we've had far less since then. Still have the power cut box though. Old corded phone, trangia stove, gas lantern and lots of tealights and gu pudding ramekins to put them in.

Because we do camp/scouts etc also have various battery or rechargeable torches which I tend to keep charged plus a couple of phone powerpacks.

The freezer lasts for days so long as you don't open in and the fridge will keep things cool enough for a good while too, could of days really before you have to start wondering about the raw meat. A cheap fridge thermometer means when the power comes back on you can check what temp it came up to which can support any decisions on food in there.

Could you buy some battery powered ones to have as backup? If you have to disconnect the mains one the battery one can take over

We lost power for 4 days in February due to Storm whoever.

It was totally frustrating because we couldn’t contact the energy provider. They kept asking us to “go online”. I tried explaining we didn’t have electricity, therefore no internet so no avail.

We heated tinned soup on a camping stove and had a miserable time. 3 hours in comparison would be a breeze.

Have tacked battery operated fairy lights along the dado rail, put torches at the top and bottom of the stairs and collected all the candles and tealights from around the house and put them in a box with a box of long matches so they are easily accessible.

Have checked which zone I'm in . . . at Level 1 in my zone there will be 2 powercuts on one day, first in the morning and the other during the evening. The third will be during the night.

I'm fortunate to have a gas hob which I light with a lighter and a gas fire in my living room.

Its common sense to have some sort of blackout box on the go anyway. Handy to have type of stuff. Camping lanterns and what not. Fridges and freezers will be fine if you keep the door shut. A couple of board games to play with the kids and all that.

It's not a big deal if you have some sort of plan in place.

I've checked my zone, it'll be fine to plan for that.

Please guys, no candles! If people start using candles there will be fires worse than any power cut.