Blackout Preparation?

Keeper1 I guess it’s because the power companies can only verify usage times via a smart meter.

Keeper1

Why
Only people with smart meters?

Would it be because that the only way you could tell when the electicity is being used?

With the cost of electricity we won’t have any choice but to cut back on it! Volunteering won’t enter into it! Poorer people are already having to choose between heating and eating. I won’t be doing away with my wood burning stove any time soon.

Casdon

The biggest issue is that far more people live in homes with no alternative to electricity now, whereas as the seventies there were more coal fires and gas fires.

We couldn't get the coal, Casdon

Why
Only people with smart meters?

MaizieD

Can't read the article. Can you give us an idea of what it says, OP?

The only bit I could read is this...

Hard-up families will be paid to use less electricity and avoid blackouts
Millions of households could be paid to use less electricity at peak times this winter under plans from the National Grid to reduce the risk of blackouts. The company responsible for keeping the lights on is working urgently to establish a scheme to pay consumers with smart meters to ration their usage voluntarily when supplies are scarce.

... which you probably also read, I guess?

Might be feasible for those who're retired - we often have all day to get things done, but for working families, well it's pretty impractical for obvious reasons.

I'd like further information.

Why does the OP think it’s the poor who are being asked to cut back?
The scheme is to reward people with smart meters who use less electricity at peak times.

Can't read the article. Can you give us an idea of what it says, OP?

The hardest bit is to cut back on heating in winter. Lighting, appliances, gadgets etc are all do-able to an extent, but to be cold is miserable and potentially harmful.
I agree with Monica, it's not necessarily a negative plan and we too signed up for it in France. The trade off was that we heated the pool to 26 degrees for free all summer. Supply and demand.

Diamond Lily- yes WiFi ??.

The biggest issue is that far more people live in homes with no alternative to electricity now, whereas as the seventies there were more coal fires and gas fires.

When we had the blackouts in the 70's, they just announced, in advance, what areas would have a 3 hour blackout the following day, and at what time.

We just did the essential stuff beforehand, got our candles and torches ready and sat it out.

I don't know how well people will cope today - many will have a meltdown if the Wi-Fi goes off. ?

I already put the dishwasher and washing machine on in the evenings, but won’t that just shift the ‘peak times’ if everyone does it?

Let’s hope that businesses will also be encouraged to save power. So many office blocks with lighting on all night and computers left on.

It’s certainly a negative that there’s a risk of blackouts, because that would put vulnerable people at risk form lack of heating and light.

Why should we see this plan as so negative? What makes you think that the 'wealthy' (whatever that means) wouldn't sign up for a scheme like this?

Something similar happens, or used to happen in France, we were signed up for it at one point.