Bulb says they will supply heating/cooking eqpt during power cuts to homes with electricity only???

littleteapot

deano2099 said:

Except they'll still be able to do that. As long as the data network stays online and can cope with the increased demand, young people are not going to be bothered. They're the ones that know how to download a couple of films or TV shows from Netflix onto their tablet and can watch them for three hours.

That's assuming that the mobile base stations all have adequate and properly maintained battery backup, and the telephone exchanges that backhaul the traffic from all these base stations have reliable battery backup and generators, as well as the independently run IPX sites which ultimately connect all our national telecoms networks to 'The Internet'

Having had some experience in the telecoms world, battery maintenance and replacement schedules historically haven't been quite as good as they should be.

Chrysalis

ariarnia said:

Chrysalis said:

I see on the priority register they say they inform people of expected power outages and other info related to that, I honestly dont understand why that isnt done as standard.

The other stuff like temporary accommodation for longer power cuts, and people coming to assist of course is priority services only, but text messaging, make that universal.

they do if people sign up for updates. i don't know about all areas but here is an example https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/power-cut/text-updates? we also signed up with the water company for updates on their works in the area. 

i think gdpr means they can't just send messages to customers if the customers ticked the box at sign up to say they didn't want to be contacted. 

Thanks at least you provided a link, I am in the east midlands so not covered by that link you posted.  I googled for western power which redirects to the national grid, putting my postcode on there doesnt offer a text service.

I do qualify for the PSR though just never bothered registering before (disability).

gt94sss2

I would always recommend registering directly with your retail energy/water companies to join the PSR not just the power distribution firms.

@Chrysalis
Listed on https://www.nationalgrid.co.uk/customers-and-community/priority-services/priority-services-faqs/what-are-the-benefits-of-joining-the-register

What are the benefits of joining the register?

The Priority Services Register is a free service and it could help you cope better in a power cut.  Additional services you can benefit from are:

a direct number to get straight through to us

agreeing a password with us before we visit, so you feel safe

provided special help, if needed, through the British Red Cross

informed about planned interruptions to your electricity supply

kept up-to-date as much as possible in the event of an unplanned cut

provided free 24 hour power cut alerts and text updates to medically dependent customers

Qyburn

littleteapot said:

That's assuming that the mobile base stations all have adequate and properly maintained battery backup, and the telephone exchanges that backhaul the traffic from all these base stations have reliable battery backup and generators, as well as the independently run IPX sites which ultimately connect all our national telecoms networks to 'The Internet'

That's one of the findings from last years storms.  A lot of the mobile networks did not stay in service.  Just looking at our local area all services from one particular mast went down for around a week, a few days longer than the actual power cuts.  And in addition O2 went down not just from that mast but from several other masts in the local area.

Mister_G

Qyburn said:

littleteapot said:

That's assuming that the mobile base stations all have adequate and properly maintained battery backup, and the telephone exchanges that backhaul the traffic from all these base stations have reliable battery backup and generators, as well as the independently run IPX sites which ultimately connect all our national telecoms networks to 'The Internet'

That's one of the findings from last years storms.  A lot of the mobile networks did not stay in service.  Just looking at our local area all services from one particular mast went down for around a week, a few days longer than the actual power cuts.  And in addition O2 went down not just from that mast but from several other masts in the local area.

Yes, that is a problem for all the mobile networks, especially in the remoter areas.  Although all major sites are fibre fed, a number of the other sites are fed by a microwave chain, which relies on each site keeping its power.

Chrysalis

gt94sss2 said:

I would always recommend registering directly with your retail energy/water companies to join the PSR not just the power distribution firms.

@Chrysalis
Listed on https://www.nationalgrid.co.uk/customers-and-community/priority-services/priority-services-faqs/what-are-the-benefits-of-joining-the-register

What are the benefits of joining the register?

The Priority Services Register is a free service and it could help you cope better in a power cut.  Additional services you can benefit from are:

a direct number to get straight through to us

agreeing a password with us before we visit, so you feel safe

provided special help, if needed, through the British Red Cross

informed about planned interruptions to your electricity supply

kept up-to-date as much as possible in the event of an unplanned cut

provided free 24 hour power cut alerts and text updates to medically dependent customers

I have done so now, I did at the time of my previous post, but since I feel what the PSR offers is excessive to my needs (even though I fit the criteria) I would have preferred to just be able to register only for the text messages somewhere, thanks.

GingerTim

You can register for text alerts for power outages at https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/power-cut/text-updates?noAddressFound=true

deano2099

littleteapot said:

deano2099 said:

Except they'll still be able to do that. As long as the data network stays online and can cope with the increased demand, young people are not going to be bothered. They're the ones that know how to download a couple of films or TV shows from Netflix onto their tablet and can watch them for three hours.

That's assuming that the mobile base stations all have adequate and properly maintained battery backup, and the telephone exchanges that backhaul the traffic from all these base stations have reliable battery backup and generators, as well as the independently run IPX sites which ultimately connect all our national telecoms networks to 'The Internet'

Having had some experience in the telecoms world, battery maintenance and replacement schedules historically haven't been quite as good as they should be.

But comms infrastructure is exempted from the blackout plans along with hospitals, food manufacturing, essential transport etc. This isn't like a storm, battery backups shouldn't factor in as it's being done on purpose and these services are excluded.
Now, that's the theory, you may ask if we have, in practice, the level of granular control to make that actually happen and I'll admit I've no bloody idea!

[Deleted User]

deano2099 said:

littleteapot said:

deano2099 said:

Except they'll still be able to do that. As long as the data network stays online and can cope with the increased demand, young people are not going to be bothered. They're the ones that know how to download a couple of films or TV shows from Netflix onto their tablet and can watch them for three hours.

That's assuming that the mobile base stations all have adequate and properly maintained battery backup, and the telephone exchanges that backhaul the traffic from all these base stations have reliable battery backup and generators, as well as the independently run IPX sites which ultimately connect all our national telecoms networks to 'The Internet'

Having had some experience in the telecoms world, battery maintenance and replacement schedules historically haven't been quite as good as they should be.

But comms infrastructure is exempted from the blackout plans along with hospitals, food manufacturing, essential transport etc. This isn't like a storm, battery backups shouldn't factor in as it's being done on purpose and these services are excluded.
Now, that's the theory, you may ask if we have, in practice, the level of granular control to make that actually happen and I'll admit I've no bloody idea!

In practice, yes, as long as all the relevant people have submitted the documentation required to identify their sites as essential and this has been processed and implemented by the DNOs.

Although that probably means no.

Mister_G

[Deleted User] said:

deano2099 said:

littleteapot said:

deano2099 said:

Except they'll still be able to do that. As long as the data network stays online and can cope with the increased demand, young people are not going to be bothered. They're the ones that know how to download a couple of films or TV shows from Netflix onto their tablet and can watch them for three hours.

That's assuming that the mobile base stations all have adequate and properly maintained battery backup, and the telephone exchanges that backhaul the traffic from all these base stations have reliable battery backup and generators, as well as the independently run IPX sites which ultimately connect all our national telecoms networks to 'The Internet'

Having had some experience in the telecoms world, battery maintenance and replacement schedules historically haven't been quite as good as they should be.

But comms infrastructure is exempted from the blackout plans along with hospitals, food manufacturing, essential transport etc. This isn't like a storm, battery backups shouldn't factor in as it's being done on purpose and these services are excluded.
Now, that's the theory, you may ask if we have, in practice, the level of granular control to make that actually happen and I'll admit I've no bloody idea!

In practice, yes, as long as all the relevant people have submitted the documentation required to identify their sites as essential and this has been processed and implemented by the DNOs.

Although that probably means no.

Speaking as someone who has built mobile infrastructure in the UK, I can tell you that only the major nodes/switching sites will benefit from dual diverse mains supplies and backup generators.

The majority of the radio sites will be connected to the same local supply as the surrounding properties.  They do have battery backup, but this will only power the site for 6-10 hours depending on how loaded the site is.