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Preppers
Original poster

A real reason to prep!

29 replies

Pantone363 · 08/11/2015 00:30

Ignore the vagueness but I don't want to put DP.

Just a quick note that due to budget cut backs and new contracts the utility arborist work has been severely cut back this year. In other words lots of trees that should (and usually would) have been cut away from the power lines throughout the year haven't. Especially in the South/South East.

DP has said to expect more power cuts due to overhanging trees etc falling during storms/freezing weather. He brought home a generator the other day and he is the least preppy person ever.

OP posts:
Stratter5 · 08/11/2015 00:42

Thanks Pantone, that makes sense, I had noticed that the wood at the top of the hill hadn't had its annual trim, neither have the potholes been done.

Too busy spending money on a stupid evacuation route that will never be needed. Even in '53 the sea didn't really reach here.

Original poster
Pantone363 · 08/11/2015 00:48

*out DP. It's all very hush hush that they haven't cut back as much as they should have. DP says trees are burning off on lines all over the place. Should be at least 3 meter clearance!

OP posts:
Stratter5 · 08/11/2015 00:59

At last, a valid reason to get a generator

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 08/11/2015 05:06

Thank you OP, that's useful to know.,

lighteningirl · 08/11/2015 12:09

Do noticed that trees haven't been cut back by motorways signage is getting hard to read

cozietoesie · 08/11/2015 12:41

Ouch.

Stratter5 · 08/11/2015 13:47

Pantone, do you know if this is something that was up to individual local councils, or is it centrally dictated, and affecting everywhere?

Original poster
Pantone363 · 08/11/2015 17:26

It's not anything to do with the government at all. The power companies (UKPN etc) are in charge of tree managements and keeping the lines clear. About 10% of their budget is spent on line clearance and getting permission from land owners to cut trees back.

The trees are actually cut back by companies that sub contract to the power companies. Lots of the contracts ended this year and went out to tender again. There was so much wrangling over money, line distances, working conditions etc. As a result a lot of work has been left this year. Some companies aren't cutting low voltage lines at all and are just concentrating on 11k lines.

There is supposed to be roughly 3m clearance but as I said DP says there are so many trees burning off on lines (more than usual anyway!)

There has also been big changes to how the lines are surveyed. Previously a man/woman walked the lines and reported what needed cutting. It's mostly been changed to surveying by helicopter which is no where near as good.

OP posts:
ThroughThickAndThin01 · 08/11/2015 17:39

Hopefully it's something which can be resurrected next year Pantone if they can sort it out.

Stratter5 · 08/11/2015 17:58

Is that why our lights keep dipping? We've noticed that's been happening a lot last couple of days - it's been quite windy here.

Mind you, it's always bloody windy, straight off the North Sea

SideOrderofChips · 08/11/2015 18:14

i admit i have a gas canister stove in my shed in case of power cuts here. Mainly because they can last for hours and i have a newborn. Oh and all my power is through electric

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 08/11/2015 21:33

I would like another way to be able to cook/heat up food in a power cut. A particularly bad power cut was two years ago we had no power for three days over Christmas. It was dismal. Would a gas canister stove be the best thing to get?

BiddyPop · 09/11/2015 13:42

We were lucky growing up that there were 2 main lines locally - 1 servicing the village but a separate one servicing the local oil refinery (that was officially "non-interruptable", but did have outtages - refinery also had generators of its own). So there were a few Christmases where we ended up cooking turkeys for other families living near us but on the other line (we ate at night anyway so could do 2 in the morning and early afternoon before needing it for our own), and we had a bockety gas cooker as well that would be pressed into service. I do remember once having turkey from the gas cooker ourselves.

A camping gaz type stove would be fine for just hot drinks and some hot foods. And nice and small for storage. There are quite a few ones that are 2 ring that work well - look in outdoor shops selling off camping gear at the end of the summer (some may still have some).

A gas powered BBQ (along with decent winter outdoor gear) would also be useful for cooking even in winter. Although slower to cook due to the cold, it does work fine (we've tested ours in snow!).

And also get a couple of thermos flasks. So if you know power will go, boil the kettle and fill with hot water. And if you are boiling water at other times, put any not used into the flasks for later (even just to heat from warm rather than cold to save the gas).

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 09/11/2015 14:33

We have a gas cylinder BBQ, maybe that would be enough. A little camping stove may be better thoigh jus to heat up soup, or pasta, that kind of thing maybe. It would have been so nice to just have had a hot drink when the power was off and we needed cheering up.

Helgathehairy · 09/11/2015 15:07

I actually had a man call last week asking if he could cross one of my fields to check the trees in another field near some lines. So looks like we're OK - I'm in Ireland.

We had very bad wind 2 years ago - lots of trees came down and the power was out for a few days. I had a 3 month old at the time. Luckily she was breast fed, we have a gas stove and a wood burner. Unfortunately electric shower though and we were pretty short of light.

What's best for light if the power does go? We have a torch for immediate light but more long term. I'm not thrilled about the idea of candles as we have a 2 year old, a dog and a cat

BiddyPop · 09/11/2015 15:15

Do you have any kind of hurricane lamps, or those posh lanterns that a candle goes into Helga? So the candle can light safely and let the flame burn dancing away from interested fingers? Put up on a worktop/mantelpiece so not likely to be knocked over? Especially if you have a mirror on the mantel, which will reflect the light and make it brighter!

I know my DM has an old fashioned oil lamp, which she bought in an antiques shop for the same purpose when we were experiencing the brown and blackouts in the 1980s, and which she still uses (but finds it hard to get the kerosene). There are probably similar around somewhere.

And battery operated camping lanterns are so much better now than they used to be, and use LEDs for bulbs so are actually decently bright as well. (I know I saw a few in Great Outdoors only recently that I was pondering getting but haven't had a chance yet).

Helgathehairy · 09/11/2015 15:33

I like hurricane lamps for decorative purposes but our wood burner is inset into the wall and we don't have a mantle.

Camping lamps would be good as I could store them in the shed. Thanks for that idea!

Sadik · 10/11/2015 15:33

Interesting. When I was a child (rural midlands in the 70s) we used to have powercuts all the time in winter - definitely two or three a month at minimum, and the leccy could easily be out for several hours upwards. We always had torches, candles etc in the cupboard under the sink where you could find them easily in the dark. I have happy memories of cooking beans on toast for tea over the open fire in our sitting room, my mum I expect not so much especially the time it went out for 4 hours on Christmas morning when she had all the relatives staying Grin

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 10/11/2015 15:38

My prepping dismissive Dh has just suggested we get a generator as he's heard that power cuts are going to be more frequent this winter.

I'm astonished - happy, but astonished.

He's been researching a generator today apparently.

Sadik · 10/11/2015 16:36

Worth trying farm auctions if you have any near you, DH got our generator for twenty quid (admittedly 4 or 5 years back), it's not big enough to run a welder but fine for power tools etc.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 10/11/2015 16:39

Oh really? Thanks for the tip, Sadik, I'll keep a look out. Is there anything we need to know, being total novices.

Sadik · 10/11/2015 16:48

IIRC he was able to try it to make sure it worked - but maybe if you're not particularly mechanical a new one would be best. DH is pretty good at fixing up random crap that he buys at auction useful machinery.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 10/11/2015 16:52

Ah I think I new one then! Dh-and I- are rubbish at doing anything practical like that.

atticusclaw2 · 10/11/2015 17:55

There were reports on the radio today about the strain on the grid this winter. The powers that be were saying that there are pressure points and they will be taking steps such as paying electricity companies to generate more and paying businesses to use less.

Our lights have just been flickering (woodland property and so there are probably branches on the lines)

I think a generator is next on our list. Most of our neighbours have them just in case. Our friends have an enormous one which has a room to itself! Envy

KatharineClifton · 10/11/2015 18:16

I'd really love a generator! What sort would one need to power a house? Academic atm as stoney broke but I have a wishlist Grin