HOUSEHOLDS are being warned of electricity blackouts this winter – here’s everything you need to do to prepare.
Shortages of gas could mean there could be planned three-hour blackouts in some areas to protect supplies for heating homes and buildings, the National Grid has said.
1
The blackouts could come at peak times and may well be in the evenings when it’s dark outside.
It said the number of people left without electricity would depend on how many gas power stations would be forced to shut down because there is not enough gas.
In order to prevent planned power cuts, households will be paid to turn down their heating and not use their washing machines at peak time to save the country as much energy as possible.
If the power cuts do go ahead, it will be the first time there has been controlled blackouts since the 1970s.
There are 15 power networks in the UK, and if there is a looming shortage, the National Grid will notify households if they will be cut off temporarily.
Here, we outline everything you should do to prepare for winter power cuts, including handy gadgets, what to do with your fridge freezer, and appliances to switch off.
How do you prepare for a power cut?
Before a power cut there are a few things you can do to make sure you are equipped to deal with the dark times.
You should make sure you have at least one torch in your house and spare batteries.
Most read in Money
Try to avoid candles if you can because they are a fire risk.
External battery packs are also handy for charging your phone without relying on electricity.
You can pick up portable phone charger for £19.99 from Argos -just remember that if you order online, you may have to pay a delivery fee.
You could also pick up a similar charge for £16.99 from Amazon.
But make sure you should around, because you may be able to find a better deal elsewhere.
Make sure the gadget is fully charged so that it is ready to use straight away.
This also goes for devices such as laptops and tablets.
It’s a good idea to write down and keep a list of important contacts just incase your mobile phone dies.
Having some blankets and thick clothes ready to keep everybody in your household warm is also a good idea.
Have a first aid kit handy too in case of an emergency.
Make sure you know how to operate the manual release of your garage door, if you have one.
It may also be a good idea to keep your car’s petrol tank full as petrol stations rely on electricity to pump petrol.
Have some cash handy too because all card machines work with electricity.
If you rely on anything that requires batter power like a medical device, make sure you talk to your doctor about a back up plan.
If you have a stair lift for example, you should have a back up battery
But if you don’t you should contact the manufacturer for advice.
It may also be a good idea to check in with your neighbours to see if they need an help during the power cut.
How long can my fridge freezer survive in power cut?
If you are without power for any length of time you will want to keep an eye on your fridge freezer.
Many of us rely on a freezer to stock up food and keep grocery bills low.
Your fridge will keep food safe for up to 4 hours during a power outage, according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
Keep the door closed as much as possible to give your food the best chance of lasting.
Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers after four hours without power.
After a power outage never taste food to determine its safety.
The FSA says a full freezer will hold a safe temperature for approximately 48 hours or 24 hours if it is half full and the door remains closed.
Food may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals, or is at 4C or below, however, its quality may suffer.
Of course, most households will also have foods that don’t need to be cooked or stored in a fridge freezer that will remain safe to eat.
What about other appliances?
There are certain appliances that you should unplug though, to avoid damage to items in case of surge when power returns.
But these should only be non-essentials, like TVs, which you can switch off at the wall plug.
Jonathan Rolande from the National Association of Property Buyers told The Mirror: “If power does go off, switch off unnecessary appliances that will switch on when power returns but leave a light on so that you know when power returns.
“Sensitive equipment like a PC should be unplugged in case of a power surge. Think about pets such as fish in a heated tank.
Here, we explain why blackouts may happen this winter, and when you could happen.
Households to be paid to put appliances on at off-peak hours – and it could cut bills by £100. Find out more here.
