Really quite concerned about energy blackouts.

[User63683783736363]

Anyone else? If they actually happen. Hopefully it's just the media scaring us, I try and stay away from the news.

before anyone tells me in being hysterical, please hear me out. I know that all of us are in the same boat but..

I have two dc, both with sen. No power would be hell on Earth if it's the evenings. We had a power cut last night due to bad weather, it was stressful. They need routine. DS is petrified of the dark. We have torches and candles but it's still not ideal.

as well as this I'm concerned about how cut off we will be. Live in the middle of nowhere, don't get phone signal indoors at home so we rely heavily on the internet, wi-fi calling and even now our landline is plugged into our router after having a letter from BT to tell us to do so, so it's not like we can even use an old wired landline.

would mobile phone masts go out in a blackout? Sorry if I sound clueless , we don't get indoor signal but do get outdoor - but I can't sit outside for hours just in case someone needs to contact us.

I have two vulnerable relatives and worried they won't be able to get through for whatever reason!

again, sorry if sound ott. I wasn't too worried but after our power cut last evening for several hours, it got me worried.

I’ve got shit loads of candles, plan to buy some power banks, and am going to buy a feather duvet for DD’s bed.

I would strongly encourage all new mums to buy some premade formula cartons even if they plan to bf.

Oh and perhaps some cold water sterilising tablets.

Could you make a blackout box and put fun games/puzzles in there? Add some treat food etc

Only use it for the when the power is off and make it part of a new routine. You never know they may look forward to it.

I doubt we will have blackouts though.

By way of example - Ofwarren you are zone B and your blackout days at level 1 are mondays and wednesdays. Your wednesday blackout is 03.30 - 06.30 and you have two separate blackout times on the monday 03.30 - 06.30 and 18.30 - 21.30.

If things get worse and we move up to level 2 you have to look at the level 2 rota. you then have 3 x 3 hour slots on a monday, 1 x three hour slot on a Tuesday, 2 x three hour slots on a wednesday and one on a sunday etc.

Note that the plan says that whilst the slots are three hours it could take up to an hour outside of this slot for the power to come back on..

I'm doing some work on this for a client so I'm spending a lot of time looking at these rotas!

I wasn't worried about power cuts for a few hours, lived with it in the 70s and where I live we get them regularly anyway, but when I heard the 7 day blackout thing I felt a bit more concerned.

If your DCs use tablets or phones, get some portable chargers and keep them fully charged all the time. Download any videos or TV shows / films that they might want to watch so you can watch without internet connection. Someone posted a useful list on here recently of tips like these, if you search you might find it. We bought some really useful camping lamps / torches (battery powered) that came in useful during a 4 hour power cut in our area a few months ago. Get enough so everyone has one they can carry around with them.

And due to under-investment in nuclear power.

yep

I have bought 4 magic lights bulbs in case we have no electricity. These bulbs contain a small battery in them. Whilst electricity is in they take some power and store in a little battery. When blackout comes use little remote to switch light bulbs back on using little battery. They last up to 6 hours. Can get them on Amazon.

I didn't have a phone in the 70s so that was one worry I didn't have.

People also seem to be under the impression that you just have to notify your provider that you use medical equipment or have young children or elderly people in the house and you will be excluded. It doesn't work that way. Its only critical infrastructure that is continued like large hospitals with A&E units, air traffic control etc. They effectively get treated like their own zone/block. All properties in a zone/block get turned off even if you have vulnerable people in them.

If you are in this position though it is worth checking the zone of your relatives/friends. If they are in a different block their blackouts would be at a different time to yours (at least at the first few levels) and so you could potentially travel to stay with them.

I have these, theyre good

Back in the 70s we couldn't understand why everyone we knew had power cuts with the one exception being my mother. Someone told her it was because she was close to someone who was on home dialysis so they couldn't cut them off. I have no idea if that was true.

We’re in a new build, no gas. So we’ve bought a camping stove as we still have Calor gas bottles from our camping/caravan days.

Other than that I have extra blankets and I’ve put a fleece blanket on my bed, DDs are away at Uni. I buy throws for Christmas presents etc.

If the black outs are rolling I can plan, if it’s announced, so main meal early and a flask for hot water so that we can have tea/coffee etc.

All devices will be charged in the morning etc. We have candles in the kitchen and bathroom and torches for other rooms.

I know it will be more difficult with DC with SEN.

That's part of the difference I mean. We're more reliant on what we are used to having if that makes sense. In the 70s if you had no phone there'd be a phone box you'd likely be familiar with and which would operate in a power cut. I'm sure in some ways if it happens it'll be easier as hopefully mobiles will work and power banks etc can be used. I just mean it could be quite a different experience to what people remember from the past.

What kind of price are these bulbs?
Sound like a good idea

Sorry, that was in reply to @ancientgran

Amazing, thank you

Mine were about a tenner. They’re led so last for ages.

I’m worried - my office is 4 hours away from home. I’d lose my job if I can’t work remotely as it’s not possible to get to the office everyday.

How do I find out what power zone I am in? I have checked online, and it says to look at my energy bill. But I don't have energy bills. I rent my flat and pay a set amount to cover bills, it goes to a central landlord's account and covers water, heating, electricity, council tax and so on. So, no bills. Is there anywhere where the zones are listed for parts of the country? Or doesn't it work that way?

Hiya . . . I think the first one on Monday for Zone B is actually 6.30am to 9.30 am.

So in effect, mine could be off for 8 hours on the Monday? Jfc 🙈

MeanderingGently go to powercut105 and put in your postcode, scroll down and it will give you a letter in red, thats your zone