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 have always kept some batteries and a couple of large lantern style torches in a box in my under-stairs cupboard, it goes back to when my children were very young and our fuses tripped quite frequently. There are a few candles in there as well, with holders so they don’t fall over but I don’t really think I’ll use them. ( No children here but I prefer to use a torch) I have a wind up torch next to my bed which I take with me when I go on holiday to help if I need to get up in the night.

So I’m not making any additional precautions as in a short power cut as suggested I won’t need to bother with hot food. I have no additional source of heating other than central heating so if I get cold, I’ll probably go to bed!

We have battery candles, camping lights and a power bank. Also camping stove if it’s off for longer periods. This came in handy earlier this year when a storm knocked off power for about 18 hours.
Fortunately we have a log burner so will be warm and the cooker keeps it’s heat for sometime so cooking would be fine if the power is off for three hours.

Don't be silly!!

Candles are popular with or without power cuts. Most people are sensible

They are supposed to be battery back up but the battery didn’t kick in

Battery dead? Is that possible?

Using the charge from our electric car.

Everything like phones, kindles etc will be charged up. Will the internet go down? Anyway, will use torches on phone, and read from kindle. One plug in heater in one room.

Yes batteries do die. Change them before you look at other possibilities.
My battery back up went and the damn alarms scared the shit out of the dogs til I got home.

Yeah my dogs were a mess. They really didn’t like it and were stressing for hours afterwards

If there are planned cuts you'll be fine as you'll know in advance and can have stuff cooked/charged/get fire on etc before hand. We had two 5 day stints last Winter of power cuts which was really difficult. Planned 3 hour power cut would be a breeze in comparison! Food in fridge and freezer will be fine if doors are kept closed

How did you find out when yours will be? I can only find links to current power cuts.

I thought it wasn't definitely happening yet?

Powecut105.com will give you your zone.

We have the Level tables on our power cuts thread on the peppers board if you want to have a look there. Quite a bit of info as you'd expect. We've been discussing it for a few weeks.

Otherwise, if you Google power outage blocks, it usually comes up. (I found them linked to in an article in the Edinburgh Post)

Preppers board

Powercut105.com

Ffs. The arthritic hands are particularly bad today.

There's this 10yr smoke and co alarm from Argos for £35
or this 10yr smoke only for £18.

Ours are mains only, but I've got a battery one as well as it has the co alarm built in.

Thanks @rainbow

I saw a lantern in Home Bargains yesterday, but it was battery powered rather than rechargeable. Any thoughts on which would be better? I'm not thrilled about spending any extra money, really.

That's my plan love a nap

At level 1 in my zone, there are two planned outages from 6.30am to 9.30am then 6.30pm to 9.30pm. Two separate three hour slots. On a Monday. The first one will coincide with school run time. It has the potential to be a total pain in the ass. I'd love to bap too, but these outages aren't just going to happen in the evenings, or when it's convenient to nap.

I've got a plan in place now, so I'm ready. But I'm pleased I looked into the detail a little more closely.

If it doesn't happen, no drama. If it does, I've taken steps to mitigate disruption and discomfort to my family.

Here's the link to the ESEC guidance which also contains the suppply disconnection timetables.

For anyone who is interested.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/995049/esec-guidance.pdf

@RainbowZebraWarrior I get that but for me - I'm just saying I can
I don't have DC and my work requires power at home. So if I can't work then it is what it is and I'll go for a sleep
It's not convenient to me either because I work 8-6 but I can't work without power as I can't hotspot off my phone. It was a light hearted comment

I've set up a power cut hub in my utility room with various (tested) battery-powered lights, head torches, a battery radio and a corded, non-powered phone. We've checked and our gas hob will work with the electricity switched off. I smoke, so no shortage of lighters in the house to ignite it. I've put a torch in each place we most commonly occupy in the house in case we are caught without notice.

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'm confused - wouldn't everybody be notified of when power cuts will be if they're planned?

I cant figure out my level 🙈

No worries at all @PeloFondo I only replied as I'd envisaged the outages happening in the evenings then found out it could be all times of the day.

We will all find our way of dealing with them if they happen. A nap is always a top option, though 😊

Ill post the link in a sec for you to pop your postcode in here and that will give you your region letter. Once you know that, you can look at the Level 1 plan (I assume that's the level the outages would start with) I'm B so just look along the B line to see the days and times.

Hope that makes sense as I feel I've waffled a bit today.