Important information Preparing for a power cut.

[JohnW2]

... but many of the lights need the router and hubs running to turn them on/off ...

It's known as 'a technological advance'

 

[JohnW2]

How does one find a torch in total darkness ?
We have light from the street lights

Are you saying that the street lights in your area have some sort of power back-up?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

You could, but that wouldn't help if the mobile network 'masts' accessible by your phone were without either mains power or any back-up power

I would imagine, that most do have backup.

 

[ericmark]

So what would you tell people to do to prepare for an unplanned power cut?
First question I would ask, is if a smart meter is fitted, do you need to ring 105, or will they be auto notified, and if not auto notified, should we be fitting smarter smart meters?

We have two things, one is preparing for, and the other is once it has happened. So calling 105 is once it has happened, all we need to do to prepare is to work out will we be able to call 105? The OpenReach exchange is a stone's throw from where I live, so unless they have battery back-up, all phones be them mobile, cordless or wired will fail.

This has always been the case, I know with the Rhyl floods RAYNET provided coms, as no phones worked, but the mobile phone has resulted in RAYNET not being used much now, so many have disbanded. I used to have a rucksack packed at the ready to respond, but no longer.

It's known as 'a technological advance'

Yes, and that's the problem.

Since the smart meter send info, I am told every ½ hour, I expect it could take ½ an hour for the supplier to know there has been a failure? But that's useful information, why is that not on the leaflet.

 

[SUNRAY]

I doubt I'd be able to make a call to 105 during a powercut or 999 for that matter.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Yes, and that's the problem.

Since the smart meter send info, I am told every ½ hour, I expect it could take ½ an hour for the supplier to know there has been a failure? But that's useful information, why is that not on the leaflet.

They send the 30 minute consumption data, not every half hour, but as a batch of all the data each night, to the common data handler, then it is passed on to your supplier. Whether your smart meter can report an instant power loss back to the DNO, in real time, is anyone's guess.

 

[bernardgreen]

Are you saying that the street lights in your area have some sort of power back-up?

No. it was a comment relating to the ignorance of people who do not create a resilence plan.

 

[SUNRAY]

I would imagine, that most do have backup.

I'm not so sure about that, the 2 tower sites I have kit on there are no longer any batteries, even the generator inlet for one of the services has been removed.
The site closest to our hospital has batteries (at least did in 2019) and also as cosited with a water service has shared generator back-up, being ¾ mile away I may just get on that from home and there are 2 base stations nearer. Signals here are poor at the best of times and I generally have to go upstairs for a clear phone call.

 

[plugwash]

So what would you tell people to do to prepare for an unplanned power cut?

I think the problem is it's hard to give specific advice when peoples circumstances are so widely variable. Do they live urban or rural? Do they drive? What is their budget?

Money no object - solar system with batteries and islanding capability to maintain power. Starlink to maintain communications. But many people aren't willing/able to spend at kind of money.

Honestly I suspect for most people if the power goes out after dark their best option is to just go to bed and worry about it in the morning.

do you need to ring 105, or will they be auto notified, and if not auto notified, should we be fitting smarter smart meters?

My understanding is that smart meters need power to communicate. So they can't actively inform of a power cut until after it's over. The meter operator may passively notice that a meter is not communicating but I wouldn't bet on them doing so quickly.

And remember our electricity industry is balkanised, so the "supplier" (who is resposible for dealing with the customers account), the "meter operator" (who maintains/reads the meter) and the "DNO" (who actually operate the electricty network) are all different companies.

We have two things, one is preparing for, and the other is once it has happened. So calling 105 is once it has happened, all we need to do to prepare is to work out will we be able to call 105?

I think it's important to realise there are different types of power cut with different responses needed.

Many power cuts are very localised. A single street, maybe even only a single house. In such situations you need to call the power cut in but even if you can't call in from home, you are likely to be able to walk a relatively short distance to somewhere where there is signal.

Then there are larger-scale power cuts, these may be harder to call in, but equally there will be more people trying to call them in. And they may well show up on the DNOs own monitoring even without someone calling them in.

My understanding is that telephone exchanges have substantial backup power infrastructure, but FTTC cabinets and mobile phone masts have much less robust backups, if any at all.

Copper landlines were/are the best choice if you have them, but unfortunately are being phased out. FTTP is probablly the next best option but you will have to arrange your own backup power for the consumer premesis equipment.

 

[JohnW2]

I would imagine, that most do have backup.

So would I have imagined - but Sunray has recently told us otherwise

 

[JohnW2]

Whether your smart meter can report an instant power loss back to the DNO, in real time, is anyone's guess.

It is - but, for what it's worth, my guess would be that it can't, not the least because they quite possibly need power in order to communicate!

 

[JohnW2]

Honestly I suspect for most people if the power goes out after dark their best option is to just go to bed and worry about it in the morning.

Wisdom speaks!

(but look out for the increase in birth rate a number of months later

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I'm not so sure about that, the 2 tower sites I have kit on there are no longer any batteries, even the generator inlet for one of the services has been removed.

Without physically inspecting the mast, or waiting for a powercut - I wonder if there might be some way to check?

So what do you do to prepare?

It's also worth ensuring you are on the 'at risk register' of your supplier, if you might be put at risk by a supply cut.

 

[EFLImpudence]

In the eleven hour power cut in Spain and Portugal in April the internet went down after a short while.

Also no land line any more; all fibre.

 

[ericmark]

National Grid Electricity System Operator (NGESO) balances energy supply and demand to make sure there's enough electricity for every home and business in the UK.

SP Energy Networks (and other network operators) may be instructed by NGESO to implement emergency power cuts if there is not enough electricity to meet demand. We're required to do this by law.

Please note: Emergency power cuts would affect ALL our customers, including those signed up to our free Priority Services Register.

If there is an emergency power cut, you may lose power for around three hours at a time. It's possible you could lose power more than once.

So why give the 105 number? They will know they have switched you off. I would say a radio broadcast, but we can only get internet radio here, so we don't have a battery radio as they don't work. Only option would be radio 4 long wave, can anyone see a problem there?

My grid use today how will turning power off at any time between 05:30 am and 00:30 am help with power use?