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In the event of a power outage like Spain.......

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MouldyOldDough
MouldyOldDough Posts: 2,685 Forumite
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Would gas still be available or would the lack of working meter electrics kill gas?
Also does gas need pumps to get it though the mains pipes? 

If I was half as smart as I think I am - I'd be twice as smart as I REALLY am.
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  • mmmmikey
    mmmmikey Posts: 2,318 Forumite
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    Gas meters would carry on working - where they have digital displays the display is powered by an internal battery, not the mains. Gas supply would also continue interrupted. You may find your boiler and/or any other appliances that uses gas needs a mains power supply though. Most do, some don't.
  • Sea_Shell
    Sea_Shell Posts: 10,021 Forumite
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    I'd say, it depends.

    Do the places that push gas into the system need electricity to maintain that pressure, monitor the network, safety etc?

    Your boiler probably won't work without electricity.  So no heating/hot water.

    If you don't have any matches/lighter, you might not be able to light your gas hob.
    How's it going, AKA, Nutwatch? - 12 month spends to date = 2.60% of current retirement "pot" (as at end May 2025)
  • mmmmikey
    mmmmikey Posts: 2,318 Forumite
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    Sea_Shell said:
    I'd say, it depends.

    Do the places that push gas into the system need electricity to maintain that pressure, monitor the network, safety etc?

    Your boiler probably won't work without electricity.  So no heating/hot water.

    If you don't have any matches/lighter, you might not be able to light your gas hob.

    Yes, good point, although local power cuts don't have an immediate effect on gas supply more wider spread and longer cuts might effect the operation of the gas grid. Having said that, I suspect those locations have (gas powered) backup generators in case the grid goes down.
  • MouldyOldDough
    MouldyOldDough Posts: 2,685 Forumite
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    Scary then?

    If I was half as smart as I think I am - I'd be twice as smart as I REALLY am.
  • MattMattMattUK
    MattMattMattUK Posts: 11,166 Forumite
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    Scary then?
    Not really, a few hours, maybe half a day without gas or electricity is perfectly survivable without any real issues.
  • Sea_Shell
    Sea_Shell Posts: 10,021 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Scary then?

    Nah.

    If you want to be really scared, read One Second After  by William R. Forstchen *

    You'll never think about a power cut in the same way again.

    I'd be much more worried about fresh water than gas!! 😉😲


    *It's the first of a 4 part series.
    How's it going, AKA, Nutwatch? - 12 month spends to date = 2.60% of current retirement "pot" (as at end May 2025)
  • QrizB
    QrizB Posts: 18,167 Forumite
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    Scary then?
    If you depend medically on electricity for eg. CPAP then yes, it's scary.
    If you're.eg. three years old and afraid of the dark, yes it's scary.
    If you've got a freezer full of steak and lobster, it might be expensive.
    But for most people, 24h without electricity shouldn't be a big deal.
    N. Hampshire, he/him. Octopus Intelligent Go elec & Tracker gas / Vodafone BB / iD mobile. Ripple Kirk Hill member.
    2.72kWp PV facing SSW installed Jan 2012. 11 x 247w panels, 3.6kw inverter. 34 MWh generated, long-term average 2.6 Os.
    Not exactly back from my break, but dipping in and out of the forum.
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  • Sea_Shell
    Sea_Shell Posts: 10,021 Forumite
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    QrizB said:
    Scary then?
    If you depend medically on electricity for eg. CPAP then yes, it's scary.
    If you're.eg. three years old and afraid of the dark, yes it's scary.
    If you've got a freezer full of steak and lobster, it might be expensive.
    But for most people, 24h without electricity shouldn't be a big deal.

    I'm not sure if want to be in a city if it takes much longer than that to restore power.

    Be interesting to see how long the power is off for in Lisbon.  (Portugal)

    Hopefully not much longer.
    How's it going, AKA, Nutwatch? - 12 month spends to date = 2.60% of current retirement "pot" (as at end May 2025)
  • RavingMad
    RavingMad Posts: 783 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Guessing alarms might not work. I wonder if burglers will have a field day?
  • mmmmikey
    mmmmikey Posts: 2,318 Forumite
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    RavingMad said:
    Guessing alarms might not work. I wonder if burglers will have a field day?
    Most alarms (almost all?) have battery back up so they can't be disabled by cutting the power.
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