Planned power cut?

[FleeceDuvet]

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.

There are other things to do outside the house that don't involve traipsing round shops. If it's a decent day you could go for a walk. Drive to the coast and walk on the beach. Go to a museum. Have a nice pub lunch. Take a packed lunch if money's tight. With a "free" day like that the last thing I'd want to do is walk round shops.

A day out with your husband is "wasted" annual leave?

If I was your DH I would cancel my leave and go work from the local library for the day.

Well only wasted in sense that he’d usually take a block of leave and we’d have plans. This is a random Tuesday in January, we’re skint after Christmas, DS will be at school so it just feels like a forced day out when I’d rather be in PJs eating biscuits.

I’m sure we’ll have a lovely day together. Also not everybody’s job can be done on one laptop in the library…

Are you generally a glass half empty person op?

Could your DH work on Sunday or Saturday if he can't work elsewhere and doesn't want to take a day off? Is he employed or self employed? Either way, that could be a solution.

Then you could spend the day together - go out for a walk, cheap lunch, coffee or pack up with a flask and back home to 'chill' without bothering with the Netflix part....

I’m a bit depressed in general tbh, post Christmas blues, family drama etc. I know I’m being a mizzer about this.

Anyway, we’re going to go out and have a long lunch and see some friends and it’ll be lovely. I’ll stop moaning now.

Im still cross about it though.

I’d be really pissed off too OP. YANBU

This would make me angry too OP. Especially coupled with the loss of the footpath and the imposition already. Planning permission is given to any old shit at the moment. I'd send a hacked-off email at the very least to the council.

Don't open the freezer between 9 and 5 - it will stay cool if kept shut.

Have a barbecue for lunch or eat out, other meals will be unaffected. Get a few torches or candles for the early evening as it gets dark quickly.

Remember this year we are very likely to have rolling blockouts country wide so think of your days outage as more of a practice run.

We often get a planned power outage so they can do maintenance. I don't see the issue.

We have a planned outage next Tuesday 9-5. I do think you're catastrophising a bit.

The reason a pp mentioned "fumming" is because it's "fuming".

I would try to get out for the whole day, is there family you could visit?

It is likely, even with the advance notice, there will be lots of houses with alarms going off once the power is cut.

Can you honestly not think of anything nicer to do on a day off than traipse around some shops?

I’m well aware of that, thank you. FUMMING is a bit of an in joke on MN. Thickos on Trip Advisor etc.

Well we have to be back for the youngest to get home from school. So we can’t go out out for the whole day. Dogs at home too.

But we will have a lovely pub lunch and mooch around town together.

Anyway I was just having a moan really.

Bastarding bastard developers.

You can still be in your house when the power is out though?

I'd be more annoyed about the footpath thing than the power. Is that sorted now? If not, will it open back up? Speak to your local councillor on this one.

A new development of that size will need some major electrical works to get a supply in. Traditionally it's easier to do it during the week as most people will be out at work. Nowadays there are a lot more WFH but what's the alternative?

Lots of contact with the local council. They’re a bit toothless. It was meant to be closed for six weeks back in 2020…

I’d rather not sit in a cold dark house all day with no telly. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Why would it be dark all day? Does it not have windows? And loads of people are switching their heating off in the day to make money. Bring the duvets down stairs get some candles and read books. It will be lovely.

You can keep your fridge colder for longer by filling it up, especially with containers of water as water has a high SHC and takes a lot of energy to warm up.