Are you all prepping for power cuts?

[User112]

BBC reported the other day about possible power cuts this winter due to gas shortage. Other than having a few torch light and candles, are you all prepping with anything else?

We can retreat to the campevan - heating runs off electric or LPG, fridge, LED lights - it's a VW Crafter so a decent size - you can stand up in it as it's a high top - it's stocked up with bedding and everything we need; should be OK.

Thank you @isthismylifenow . I didn’t realise the situation in South Africa.

Has anyone found any solar powered lights that you could charge on a window ledge? I've got a cheap solar powered radio that charges on a window ledge - it's really good!

I had power cuts twice during the storms in Scotland last year . There is nothing you can do to prepare for power cuts if you are in the colder months in a cold area . If you have small kids you will be massively disrupted if power cuts clash over a few hours . We did our best once we had the first storm , we had lente torches and blankets and stuff even a small gas stove but the house will be freezing to around 5 c within a day even having a fireplace and f it’s during January or February . My advice is have enough money to get to a premier in if the power cuts last over 2 days . We even have a generator that we mange do use for TV a small light and a small heater but honestly you cannot function properly with the cood and lack of way to cook etc

As far as I am aware, they do not usually turn off the gas supplies, as this is dangerous. Instead, the pressure is lowered.
The power cuts (if at all), will be elctricity.
Remember the media talk about gas, but they mean our gas fired power stations, which then provide electricity.
I have decided to keep our power packs (for tablet and phone) charged, so I will still have access to computers, etc.
And a specific place for a torch (I have inevitably put my phone down somewhere).
Otherwise, no!

We live in a 1990s built property with no ability to have any sort of open fire (other than a bioethanol fire maybe - does anyone have one of these?), so if we had gas shortages, we'd be entirely reliant on the electricity to heat us, but it would be manageable.

If there were electric shortages we'd have our hideous gas fire to keep the living room warm and the bedroom above it, but no ability to cook. I may buy one of those little camping butane can stoves.

If there are electric power cuts, in a way I hope it is on a cold part of winter, so we can at least keep food, etc cold.

We bought a new fridge freezer in the depths of winter once and instead of making sure I had an empty fridge freezer, I just put everything in cool bags & boxes in the garden (in the actual snow) - it was still frozen when the new one was installed!

As a PP has said, hopefully they'd ration gas and electric sensibly (i.e. ration gas in the day and electric at night). They'll probably rely on people using less if they're asked to, rather than implementing enforced rationing measures.

Ladbaby posted a video recently of him buying a solar powered garden solar light that he'd got from B&M for £15 and installing it indoors - really bright light and only turns on when it picks up movement. Seemed like quite a good idea, but if you were wanting something to last a whole evening you'd have to have something a little less bright!

I'm thinking of moving my garden table solar lights indoors on to the kitchen windowsill, so I don't have to turn on the umpteen spotlights just to go to the fridge.

Check the jackery range out. Someone mentioned them above as well. Really good. I’ll be honest, I’ve not tried through a window but I can’t see why it wouldn’t work or why you couldn’t poke through an open window with the cable inside.

Oh god sorry just re read your post. The jackery range are large battery packs with solar available

I'm aware this is not going to go down well but for the vast majority of us, power cuts are not a massive deal. I grew up with them (developing country). It forces you to slow down, light candles, and chill. I know it will not be great for some, disabled people and those living in areas that may be unsafe etc. but for most of us, it will be okay and can actually be a way to force us to turn off devices which is never a bad thing.

Campers here so we have a fair bit of gear already. Also live rurally so am already used to unannounced powers cuts. Log burner already in use.

You're right, this hasn't gone down well with me!

Power cuts are a sign of failing infrastructure and poor policy-making in a country like the UK. Power cuts damage the economy as leisure facilities need to close. Power cuts cause medical problems too and lack of heating is a serious issue for many vulnerable people.

It's not just about lighting candles and chilling though.

It really affects businesses, just think of a hair salon for example who cannot operate without electricity.

Most businesses here have had to install massive generators to keep the doors open while the grid is down. Who picks up the cost for that? Us ultimately.

Obviously it will be terrible for some people who will struggle to manage with no power. However, the silver lining is that my child will have no excuse not to come off his xbox and come on a bike ride with me 😊

No need to prep. We have a back-up generator that keeps the essentials running.

The village we live in used to be prone to power cuts every time there was a stiff breeze.

This has inspired me to buy three head torches and two usb charged torches.

You'll be fine, as will most of us. Try not to panic.

The truly vulnerable will be protected from the worst effects of power cuts ad the rest of us will cope.

I'm aware this is not going to go down well but for the vast majority of us, power cuts are not a massive deal. I grew up with them (developing country). It forces you to slow down, light candles, and chill. I know it will not be great for some, disabled people and those living in areas that may be unsafe etc. but for most of us, it will be okay and can actually be a way to force us to turn off devices which is never a bad thing.

Well, in one word, no. Please don't minimise and paint this in a romantic way.

It seems like that, until you realise that you don't have heat, light, internet.Your landline is not working. Your house alarm goes off. Your neighbour's house alarm goes off. Your freezer defrosts. If you live in block of flats you might not have water, the lifts are not working. No light in the corridors. You re scared of being mugged.

A few scented candles and a cashmere blanket and all chill and hygge it is not.

If it's like the 70s where it was a rota for different areas I will just stay with friends in areas that aren't affected, they can stay with me when the situation flips. I'll stage it as a fun adventure for the kids.

I'm not panicking I am healthy and relatively young.

Maybe you don't understand that power cuts are generally regarded as a bad thing, because we live in an society that uses power for many things, and that when those things are switched off it causes disruption?

We have power cuts quite regularly here anyway...
No mains gas supply so we have woodburner for heating, and an LPG cooker,
Battery powered (and mains) radio
Always have bags of tealights
Our main problem is DS WFH in IT, so his work life will be buggered!

Theyre saying it would only be for 3 hours or so at a time, pretty average here, but how can they priorities people that need electricity for medical needs?
Power lines supply many houses at a time, you cant just supply one house and not their neighbours..

Plug in landline phones won't work where providers have gone over to a digital network. More info www.futureofvoice.co.uk

Has there been any word on streetlights? I am more concerned about walking home from work in the pitch black. obviously a head torch is an option but that's only half the problem really.

Important excerpt.