Winter blackout contingency planning

Sea_Shell

Interesting about modern gas appliances needing electrical power for their valves etc to work.

Luckily our fire and hob are old enough not to have such things, but it is something to bear in mind if we eventually change them.

Matches for the hob ✔️
Manual click ignition* for the fire✔️



We have an old powerless landline phone too...for now.



* What's the technical name 

ZolaBuddy

I wonder if banks, supermarkets and other retailers have some form of UPS battery backup solutions in place, otherwise it might be rather difficult if their cash registers and ATMs go offline during a power outage. This may also affect online banking with important transactions failing to complete if there is no Plan B.

elsien

CurlySue2017 said:

Saga said:

What happens to people with medical equipment at home. And also pensioners in their own or rented flats/homes in retirement villages ie not nursing/care homes?

This is my worry.  My Dad uses an oxygen machine that plugs into the mains and I'm really worried what will happen if the power is off for even just a couple of hours.  He can't breathe without it.

Also the comparisons with the 70's that people keep making are just nonsense.  It's a nice idea doing what they did back then but the world is a different place now and it just isn't possible. 

The electricity goes off then so does the router, which means nothing is online, which means pretty much everything stops.

Sitting around candles banging away on your manual typwriter is just not a thing anymore (much as I sometimes wish it was!)

Is he registed as a vulnerable/priority customer with the utility provider? What would they do if there was an unplanned power cut in normal circumstances - perhaps now would be a good time to check that if he hasn't done so already? 

Eldi_Dos

wittynamegoeshere said:

I've got a corded phone on my desk that's wired to the phone socket, specifically for emergency use.  

I also doubt that the landline network would work anyway, it's all pretty old gear now and currently approaching retirement 

Ironically it is the subscribers who are on the older systems of copper from exchange to house who fare better when there are power cuts.

Glum

ZolaBuddy said:

I wonder if banks, supermarkets and other retailers have some form of UPS battery backup solutions in place, otherwise it might be rather difficult if their cash registers and ATMs go offline during a power outage. This may also affect online banking with important transactions failing to complete if there is no Plan B.

I have no doubt that some will have backup generators as do hospitals etc. Funnily enough, I used to work opposite a large banking data centre where they were forced to dig a massive hole to house all the backup generation and storage equipment. It took about two years to build. They had to move everything out of storage containers in their car park after the landlord objected. It probably cost millions.

CurlySue2017

elsien said:

CurlySue2017 said:

Saga said:

What happens to people with medical equipment at home. And also pensioners in their own or rented flats/homes in retirement villages ie not nursing/care homes?

This is my worry.  My Dad uses an oxygen machine that plugs into the mains and I'm really worried what will happen if the power is off for even just a couple of hours.  He can't breathe without it.

Also the comparisons with the 70's that people keep making are just nonsense.  It's a nice idea doing what they did back then but the world is a different place now and it just isn't possible. 

The electricity goes off then so does the router, which means nothing is online, which means pretty much everything stops.

Sitting around candles banging away on your manual typwriter is just not a thing anymore (much as I sometimes wish it was!)

Is he registed as a vulnerable/priority customer with the utility provider? What would they do if there was an unplanned power cut in normal circumstances - perhaps now would be a good time to check that if he hasn't done so already? 

Yes he is registered as vulnerable and they are on the PSR with me as a named contact.  He also has Mum there but she is also elderly so whilst she can help, it is limited. 

I don't know what would happen in an unplanned power cut if I'm honest, I hadn't given it a thought until now, I suppose it being highlighted in the news has brought it to my attention.

victor2

CurlySue2017 said:

Saga said:

What happens to people with medical equipment at home. And also pensioners in their own or rented flats/homes in retirement villages ie not nursing/care homes?

This is my worry.  My Dad uses an oxygen machine that plugs into the mains and I'm really worried what will happen if the power is off for even just a couple of hours.  He can't breathe without it.

Also the comparisons with the 70's that people keep making are just nonsense.  It's a nice idea doing what they did back then but the world is a different place now and it just isn't possible. 

The electricity goes off then so does the router, which means nothing is online, which means pretty much everything stops.

Sitting around candles banging away on your manual typwriter is just not a thing anymore (much as I sometimes wish it was!)

Surely any medically critical machines have a battery backup to keep them running for a short while during a power outage? What happens if something trips the breaker(s) in his house? If his device just stops then look into getting a suitable backup supply for it - whoever supplied it should be able to advise.

IF there are any scheduled power outages in the near future, they will be pre-announced, so could you move your dad to somewhere on a different schedule as needed?

In the 70's, we played cards or board games by candlelight, never had a typewriter.

Today, it's a bit inconvenient if the router goes off, but little else. Can't use Netflix on the TV, but that has no power anyway!

Sea_Shell

CurlySue2017 said:

elsien said:

CurlySue2017 said:

Saga said:

What happens to people with medical equipment at home. And also pensioners in their own or rented flats/homes in retirement villages ie not nursing/care homes?

This is my worry.  My Dad uses an oxygen machine that plugs into the mains and I'm really worried what will happen if the power is off for even just a couple of hours.  He can't breathe without it.

Also the comparisons with the 70's that people keep making are just nonsense.  It's a nice idea doing what they did back then but the world is a different place now and it just isn't possible. 

The electricity goes off then so does the router, which means nothing is online, which means pretty much everything stops.

Sitting around candles banging away on your manual typwriter is just not a thing anymore (much as I sometimes wish it was!)

Is he registed as a vulnerable/priority customer with the utility provider? What would they do if there was an unplanned power cut in normal circumstances - perhaps now would be a good time to check that if he hasn't done so already? 

Yes he is registered as vulnerable and they are on the PSR with me as a named contact.  He also has Mum there but she is also elderly so whilst she can help, it is limited. 

I don't know what would happen in an unplanned power cut if I'm honest, I hadn't given it a thought until now, I suppose it being highlighted in the news has brought it to my attention.

Maybe now's the time to have a loss of power "drill".    Check what's where and prepare.   Just in case.

Eldi_Dos

Sea_Shell said:

Interesting about modern gas appliances needing electrical power for their valves etc to work.

Luckily our fire and hob are old enough not to have such things, but it is something to bear in mind if we eventually change them.

Matches for the hob ✔️
Manual click ignition* for the fire✔️



We have an old powerless landline phone too...for now.



* What's the technical name 

Piezo igniter ?

Sea_Shell

Eldi_Dos said:

Sea_Shell said:

Interesting about modern gas appliances needing electrical power for their valves etc to work.

Luckily our fire and hob are old enough not to have such things, but it is something to bear in mind if we eventually change them.

Matches for the hob ✔️
Manual click ignition* for the fire✔️



We have an old powerless landline phone too...for now.



* What's the technical name 

Piezo igniter ?

Thanks.

You have to turn the gas knob to pilot, then click the ignition until it lights, then hold the gas knob in for a little while and then you can release it and turn up as required.

We don't leave the pilot on.