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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Planned power cut?

47 replies

FleeceDuvet · 10/01/2023 12:31

We’ve just had notice that we (estate) will have no power between 9-5 on a day next week.

This is because the new business development being built right on top of us is installing a substation. This development has caused no end of chaos over the last two years already, notably by closing the only footpath out of the estate meaning the school run is now down a busy main road with no footpath. And repeatedly applying to vary the planning permission to allow 24hr HGV access.

This letter has pretty much finished me off. Somehow made worse by the offer that they will send us a dongle and we can purchase some wifi for the day…

AIBU to be absolutely FUMMING about this? Should we be offered some sort of compensation? Can we stop it happening?

It’s probably worse in my head because I’m on AL next week and was planning to loaf about in PJs watching Netflix. DH wfh and uses a lot of equipment, so he’s had to take the day off as he can’t work anywhere else. I really am not looking forward to this. A cold wet January day with no power is making me cry.

OP posts:
Original poster
FleeceDuvet · 10/01/2023 12:43

Anyone?

I’m amazed they can do this. My freezer is full of food for a start.

Apparently there’s no compensation because they’ve given us notice. That’s mental.

OP posts:
Kinnorafron · 10/01/2023 12:47

Planning law doesn't allow any account to be taken of the disruption new developments cause - I think it should do, but I seem to be in a minority. From a practical point of view I am guessing there's no way to redo all the electrics without interrupting supply. Not sure what the point of compo would be as you objection seems to be to the disruption but I suppose you could pay to go somewhere else.
It's not great but it is normal for UK I think.

LWTW · 10/01/2023 12:48

It's not what you want to hear, but it's probably fine for them to do this with notice. I live very rurally in Scotland and we had our power off 9-5 for maintenance on the 22nd of December... it was far from ideal! We did however have notice in November and a reminder a week before.

Kinnorafron · 10/01/2023 12:48

Freezer should be fine as long as it's kept shut BTW

Lordofthebutterfloofs · 10/01/2023 12:50

It's fine op, don't be so bloody dramatic

Go out for the day, DH is off make an event of it.

MaverickGooseGoose · 10/01/2023 12:52

Don't open your fridge or freezer once the power goes off.

We live in a overpopulated island and housing needs to be built. I'm saying that as I type with a jackhammer going off in the background because of the development going up behind me.

Original poster
FleeceDuvet · 10/01/2023 12:52

I mean, we are going out for the day but it means a day of annual leave wasted to what, traipse around the shops and have lunch out (that we can’t really afford at the moment).

Good to know the freezer will be ok.

I’m just fed up with the whole thing.

OP posts:
Autumnnewname · 10/01/2023 12:52

FUMMING. Grin

one for APILN I think

Keep your freezer door shut

Original poster
FleeceDuvet · 10/01/2023 12:53

MaverickGooseGoose · 10/01/2023 12:52

Don't open your fridge or freezer once the power goes off.

We live in a overpopulated island and housing needs to be built. I'm saying that as I type with a jackhammer going off in the background because of the development going up behind me.

It’s not housing! It’s offices/warehouses.

OP posts:
lanthanum · 10/01/2023 12:54

Advice on fridge/freezer:
www.nienetworks.co.uk/help-advice/faqs/unplanned-power-cuts/how-do-i-keep-food-safe
It looks like the freezer shouldn't be an issue. Most things will be abolutely fine in the fridge, too: plan what you'll need for the day and take that out so you don't have to open the door. If it allows you to, you could turn the temperature to a lower setting overnight beforehand.

It's probably got to happen sometime, and 9-5 is probably allowing for it taking longer than expected, so it might be done by 3pm. Plan to do the netflix-bingeing another day and to visit a friend/go shopping that day. If DH will be off work, you could have a nice day out.

Original poster
FleeceDuvet · 10/01/2023 12:55

Autumnnewname · 10/01/2023 12:52

FUMMING. Grin

one for APILN I think

Keep your freezer door shut

It’s an MN-ism of yore.

Often seen unironically on Facebook rants which mine was turning into a bit.

OP posts:
Backtoreality1 · 10/01/2023 12:55

Hmmmm so a day out in the fresh air spending time with your husband is wasted, but a day sat in your pjs watching netflix isn't??? Think you need to get a life!

Original poster
FleeceDuvet · 10/01/2023 12:58

Backtoreality1 · 10/01/2023 12:55

Hmmmm so a day out in the fresh air spending time with your husband is wasted, but a day sat in your pjs watching netflix isn't??? Think you need to get a life!

How rude.

OP posts:
Orangio · 10/01/2023 13:28

It'll be fine. We've had three of these in the last year or so, which is pretty normal. Usually because SSE are working on something and power only comes in on one line so no redundancy. If it's a big area (like a couple of villages) it seems to warrant a generator, but if just a few houses no luck. One of those three they actually never bothered notifying us either 🙄
Bit annoying but there are loads of great things to do without power and your freezer will be absolutely fine so long as you leave it shut.

picklemewalnuts · 10/01/2023 13:32

These things are irritating. Try and see it as an unexpected day off.
Plan to get up just in time to make a flask of hot water for drinks later, and have a breakfast drink.

We like Wetherspoons for the ability to sit and read a paper drinking endless hot drinks for peanuts. It's a duvet day, but outside the house.

febbabies2023 · 10/01/2023 13:36

Thought I'd give some insight as I work for one of the companies able to do this (DNO, not a utility company such as EDF)

Yes they can do this and they normally try to provide as much notice as they can. (Depending what area you are in)
For us, it's 3 weeks notice for a planned power outage

Planned power outages are normally from about 8am until 4pm at the latest

Your freezer will be absolutely fine as long as you're not leaving the door open - which you wouldn't do anyway
Same with your fridge, absolutely fine

They do not have to provide compensation, and even with an unplanned outage they wouldn't need to provide compensation unless you were continuously off supply for 48 hours or more. Freezer contents wouldn't be covered by the company, and you would need to go through your insurance for this anyway

In order to put a new substation in, the connections will involve working on the high voltage network which carries in excess of 11,000 volts. Lethal if live as I'm sure you can imagine. It's obviously not something power companies want to do, but safety first.

Hope this helps a little bit, whilst I appreciate its annoying, it's only one day

ElsieMc · 10/01/2023 13:41

Yes, I seem to get these regularly. One problem was that it was not turned on again and the longest I have been without electricity was five days and I will never eat a KFC again. Last time they installed a generator it was faulty so they had to go out to repair this. I am also touchy about proposed cuts for this reason as are many locally. Electricity NW I believe were fined over this.

Although the Electricity people tell you to claim for contents of your freezer from your insurance, last time I told them they had a cheek because I had a £50 excess so our family were immediately £50 down. To be fair, they did actually agree to pay up. One day should be okay though op.

44PumpLane · 10/01/2023 13:46

Others have covered the freezer so i'll just say that if you still want a bit if a Netflix binge you could download programs to your device to watch offline.

I don't put the heating on in my house during the day and layer up while working from home.

If you do yourself a hot water bottle just before the power cut, and a couple flasks of boiled water you could still have a nice chill out morning before going off to do stuff with your husband.

SilverHydrangea · 10/01/2023 13:56

Well having experienced similar, I sympathise OP. Freezer was fine but no electric meant central heating pump didn't work and I couldn't use my heated throw. Electric cooker so no means of making hot food or drink and it was going dark before power resumed. I was unwell with a virus so it was pretty miserable really despite filling my hotwater bottle and a flask before the power went off. Have also had water off for similar periods of time bit this is easier to manage.

fdgdfgdfgdfg · 10/01/2023 14:04

I don't know why your husband is using a days annual leave for this. I'd have let them know the situation, and they can either find alternative arrangements or I could have worked from home using the dongle the power company have offered until my laptop battery ran out, and then fuck 'em

Companies are saving a fortune by having people work from home, fuck making their lives easier.

gamerchick · 10/01/2023 14:04

Freezer will be fine, just keep the door shut.

Personally if I've got husband and me at home with no kids. I can think of more interesting things to do than go out for the day. 😉

wonkylegs · 10/01/2023 14:11

It's frustrating but these things happen
As a veteran of many long power cuts your freezer will be fine. We live in an area with overhead cables which go down regularly several times a year.
If you wanted to lounge and watch Netflix could you download a few films to a charged iPad. We always keep a few saved and charged devices.
Our anxiety has been reduced since we got a Tesla battery so we can still function and work from home but it's an expensive solution for a one off.

jcyclops · 10/01/2023 16:17

Food in fridge/freezer will be fine.

If you look on ao.com at fridges &/or freezers they usually give the time they keep food safe after power is cut.

eg. One of the most popular is a £379 BEKO
ao.com/product/crfg3582w-beko-fridge-freezer-white-76055-28.aspx
Scroll down and expand How Well Does It Perform? and it tells you
Power Failure Safe Storage = 14 hours

RobinRobinMouse · 10/01/2023 16:21

I'd book somewhere to go out for the day if you are both off, maybe with a lunch somewhere yo be cosy too. Not great but really not the end of the world.

Alvinne · 10/01/2023 16:52

It's not even a whole day, seriously get a grip. Read a book or something