Power cuts - are you prepped?

I agree, I can cope with notice. It is when the electricity vanishes when it is dark outside so I must buy at least one more torch. I can foresee extra early nights if only to keep cosy.

I have stocked up with a camping stove, four cylinders, and a lot of candles! I bought them in August before prices went up or the shops ran out. I anticipated power cuts because there has been talk about power problems and I think it's a good idea to always be prepared.

I have a camping stove, plenty of gas cannisters, candles and foil blankets but I need to buy new hot water bottles.

We have torches, firewood, candles, warm clothing. As prepared as we can be. I hope power cuts are short if at all.

With notice we'd fill flasks with hot beverages.

In a word no …

Are these alleged power cuts going to be country wide or differing areas?

If the latter we would go to AC or friends out of the affected area and offer the same in return.

This might be an obvious thing to say, but does everyone know how to use their phone as a hotspot so they can get the internet on their laptop/iPad using mobile data? If so, you can still watch TV, browse GN or whatever to give you something to do during the cut. I know you can do all of that on your phone, but it's often easier and pleasanter to do it on other devices if you have enough data on your contract.
It's very easy to do, and there will be instructions for your devices and phone on Google or YouTube.

It's also worth investing in a power bank and keeping that charged up, so you don't lose battery power when you can't charge your phone using electricity.

My landline doesn’t work in a power cut and I have learned (tge hard way) to keep mobile and iPads charged up.
I have plenty of candles but will “invest” in some LED lights which stick onto surfaces, a couple more torches and plenty of batteries.
As long as we get notice (as we did in the early 70’s) I will be fine -ish.

I still have candles my mum bought when we had the blackouts in the 70’s.

Mum would say “I knew they would come in handy one day!”

We’ve got emergency battery lanterns from our caravanning days, Mr C is obsessed with torches so plenty of those. Probably not enough candles, will rectify that. Small gas camping stove and canisters and am now pondering a small gas camping heater run from a cartridge. We kept an old plug in phone which doesn’t need electricity and keeps the landline going in a power cut. With warning I’m sure we’ll manage perfectly well, or hope we will.

We have candles, torches, big battery LED lights, gaz camping cooker and wood burning stove.
Think we’ll survive.

We are lucky enough to have a log burner, and we can cook on the top of that if need be. I’ve got a couple of LED torches. As a last resort, as long as you have a port you can charge your phone in the car.

Thank you doodledog, l didn't know that you could use your mobile phone as a hotspot. I will look up how to do so.
I will also order a power bank.

Yes we have camping lanterns that give a lot of light and we would be absolutely fine in a power cut. I do just need to find where I put the power bank...

We could always charge our phones with the car charger if we were going for a drive and that would also be a way of getting warm if only a short power cut.

Good to hear that lots of people have planned ahead. Obviously hoping that we get through the winter without them but it's always a good idea to have some plans. I've been thinking about opening up the fireplace but I don't think that I'm going to.

I think I have everything I need but now I’ve moved I’m really going to miss my wood burner.

Am I the only one thinking of using a hot water bottle/foil blanket to keep warm in an emergency? Or going for a drive?
We don't have an open fire, just central heating so I don't know what else we could do to keep warm in a power cut?

Hmm. We don't have a log burner or open fire so will be cold, but we do have a gas hob so will be able to boil water for a hot water bottle. Plenty of night lights and candles though, but must find the matches!

We used to get power cuts quite often but not so much now. We have a generator, gas heaters, paraffin stove & lamps, candles, torches etc. Two dogs and a cat for extra warmth

Yes I must buy more matches
Cats and dogs are really good for warmth aren't they.

A generator is a great idea. I thought about getting a solar panel but I don't know if it's a great idea in England haha

OnwardandUpward

Am I the only one thinking of using a hot water bottle/foil blanket to keep warm in an emergency? Or going for a drive?
We don't have an open fire, just central heating so I don't know what else we could do to keep warm in a power cut?

I could make some suggestions

could well be more than the stated 3 hours, if the pipeline from norway is sabotaged. Best to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. I am fully ready, have been for a few weeks

chocolate

matches

trangia

meths

fuel for multi fuel stove + ecofan

hot water bottle

warm layers of clothing and bedding

candles in storm lanterns for safety and heat

phone power bank

makita batteries used for tools all charged and will energise two lights and makita radio

new batteries in torches

very full freezer to keep it cold

some easy foods that just need heating or water

thermos flasks, new ones that are more efficient

Cuts are the worse case scenario.
A scheme will be launched 1st November to homes with smart meters offering incentives not to use heavy usage appliances between certain hours, detail so far is here:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-63155827

When we were without power because of Storm Arwen a lot of people tried to buy battery powered radios from Curries. How long is it safe to have a fridge or freezer turned off? I have put a small tub with frozen water in the freezer with a coin on top so if food starts to thaw the coin sinks down into the ice. I’m keeping the freezer totally full and filling any gaps with freezer blocks.

Maybe I was just about to ask re freezers etc