Winter blackout contingency planning

casjen

If im in bed then I wont be bothered and if its during the day will just go for a walk if it starts getting a bit chilly...

SAC2334

Zoobzi37 said:

I am absolutely sick and tired of people like Martin not spelling out exactly what's happening. He's brainwashing us to accepting the mess we are in rather than challenge it.

Come on Martin let's have a proper debate here.

Let's talk about why there absolutely does not need to be any increase in bills next year.

How about the tories refusing to spend any public money on gas storage that caused it to be closed down in 2017. Thus creating the shortage.

Gas prices are at an all time low at present. Last week they were giving it away as the price went negative.

There's zero gas shortage anywhere else in Europe as they don't have our rediculous pseudo free market system.

Oh yes, then there's £16 billion in  profits they have made since covid.

How about the 84% increase in profits since the crisis started.

Come on Martin, let's stop all this garbage about having to accept 48% price increases next year and actually discuss what's really happening.

Out bills should be  falling and not rising.

Why have the massive gas storage facilities we have in the UK not been reopened. They have had plenty of time to do so.

Of course that wouid force prices down.

The tories believe in the free market but they take steps to tamper in such a way that forces up prices and maximises profits for already rich companies.

We are being sold a con.

Why doesn't Martin start shouting about the things that matter and would prevent us being ripped off further. 

Fully explained yesterday on the Martin Lewis show by boss of Octopus Greg Jackson . I suggest you watch the whole program today on catchup to fully understand the current low price of gas  and why it does nt translate into lower bills now. 

Nothing to do with "brainwashing " or Tory Government .
The Rough storage run by Centrica is now operational and is hopeing to store enough by Xmas

matelodave

This is the gas storage capacity for various countries in Europe and we are bottom by quite a bit https://www.statista.com/statistics/688149/underground-gas-storage-volume-by-country-europe/

Chrysalis

Oh yeah the centrica storage is not large, it will help but still way down on what we should have invested in.

Ultimately though the fix is to delink the costs, and invest in our own energy production (preferably renewables).

t0rt0ise

mmmmikey said:

wittynamegoeshere said:

Do people of a certain age never drink anything cold that isn't alcoholic?  I don't get it, if you're thirsty just drink some water.  If people are so set in their ways that it's booze, a cuppa or nothing then they themselves are their biggest problem, not the electricity supply.

It seems peculiar to actually put money, time and worry into creating a solution to a problem that doesn't actually exist unless you're some kind of slave to routine.

The same goes for broadband, if it's disconnected then I'll read a book, we'll talk to each other or go for a walk.  That's my attitude despite two of us working from home, it's just not important enough to get worked up about, and it might even be fun.

We had our water disconnected for well over 24 hours recently.  It was annoying, but nobody died.

This misses the point completely. The problem isn't blackouts per se, it's the anxiety it causes in some sections of the population, particularly the elderly who often only survive by following a very strict routine and go to pieces when that routine is broken. I understand the point you're making but I'm guessing you don't have elderly relatives or friends in that situation. Just like you, to me no electricty would be nothing more than a minor inconvenience even if it happened without warning. But we are living in a country where a lot of elderly people live alone and no longer have the capacity to easily adapt to changes in their life like a powercut.

So how old is elderly? I'm edging that way and am thinking when is it that I will be thought of as stupid.

elsien

Parent is 83, isn’t hidebound by routine and will be perfectly fine in a blackout. 

So you’ve probably got a few years to go yet. 

Auti

I think for some people it might be concerns about safety from people who may wish to use the darkness for crime and in darkness sounds can be less easily identified so creaking due heating going off etc can be more anxiety inducing. Coupled with not being able to do self soothing behaviours like making a cup of tea, watching tv or moving around the house without worrying you might fall ( not get found, break your hip etc etc) will all add to the anxiety around loss of power. This will not just apply to the elderly - dark, when not of your choice can play tricks on anyones feeling of safety. Good neighbours perhaps could pre warn vulnerable households that the power would be going off in 15 mins and check suitable items were easily available. Just my thoughts

mmmmikey

Hi - for clarity, it absolutely wasn't my intention to suggest or imply that either (a) all elderly people need to follow a routine if they live on there own, or (b) this makes them stupid. I'm sorry if anyone read it that way and hope I didn't cause any offence. My point really relates to my own experience and the experience of friends of my age who care for elderly family or friends. Both my Dad and a lady in the village were/are in the situation of coping perfectly well on their own most of the time and preferring to live at home rather than go into care, but both were in a sort of borderline state where it didn't take much to cause them anxiety and make it hard for them to cope alone. And of course, there are many others in society who suffer from anxiety for a whole host of different reasons and the worry of blackouts is (for some people) probably more of an issue than the blackouts themselves. Sorry again if any offence was caused, Mike.

Auti

I did not take offence at all @mmmmikey - I also added my thoughts too  

elsien

No offence caused, I was being slightly facetious. Ignore me.