Anyone else had power failures?

B

bluestreak56

Veteran
 Maidenhead
Went from Wednesday 12th at 11pm to Friday 14th at 7:30pm without power for the majority of the time.

Of the 44 hours between those times, we had power for about 16 hours in very small periods (from 10 mins shortest to 6 hours max)..

It was the entire substation down so took out about 4/5 roads in the area and left us without street lights, alarm systems, heat, light, etc etc

Has anyone else had a similar experience?

Going to be complaining to Southern Electric, as all our food is off, it was freezing at home, we could shower, etc. There are some elderly people down our road and I shudder to think what could have happened!
 
It doesn't take long to realise how difficult life without the "leccy" would be. We lost power a number of years ago for around 6 days during the winter.
I bought a generator using the compensation from the supply company + a little extra cash.
Didn't want to go through that again.
 
Before complaining. Have a think about the linesmen and other electrical workers who have been non stop for 3weeks working 6 am to 12 midnight without days off. Then think about the extend of the damage that has been caused over the last 3 weeks of stoms. Take your average sized area and such as Wiltshire an divide it in three. And they will have around 30 guys in total to maintain the network, Not working all at the same time usually, to attend all the faults there. Then the guy who has to organise these people and work with other authorities in order to get substations shut down and to get switching done. Unfourtunatly this doesn't all take 5 minutes so it can take time. It's not like the companies do this on purpose, that's why it can take time. Southern electric have a huge area to look after.

I can understand why people get upset it is annoying being without power. But just spare a thought for the guys who have been 40ft up a pole in all this wind and rain trying to get peoples electric back on.

Ps. Yes I havnt spoke to my dad in 3weeks as he has been working 17hour days trying to get peoples electric back on in Central Cornwall after sending a lot of workers up the line to help out in other areas.

I'm not having a go. As I said I get annoyed without electricity, just thought I would share the other side of the coin so to speak
 
mlodey said:
Before complaining. Have a think about the linesmen and other electrical workers who have been non stop for 3weeks working 6 am to 12 midnight without days off. Then think about the extend of the damage that has been caused over the last 3 weeks of stoms. Take your average sized area and such as Wiltshire an divide it in three. And they will have around 30 guys in total to maintain the network, Not working all at the same time usually, to attend all the faults there. Then the guy who has to organise these people and work with other authorities in order to get substations shut down and to get switching done. Unfourtunatly this doesn't all take 5 minutes so it can take time. It's not like the companies do this on purpose, that's why it can take time. Southern electric have a huge area to look after.

I can understand why people get upset it is annoying being without power. But just spare a thought for the guys who have been 40ft up a pole in all this wind and rain trying to get peoples electric back on.

Ps. Yes I havnt spoke to my dad in 3weeks as he has been working 17hour days trying to get peoples electric back on in Central Cornwall after sending a lot of workers up the line to help out in other areas.

I'm not having a go. As I said I get annoyed without electricity, just thought I would share the other side of the coin so to speak
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Very well said, we’ve had power cuts of just over 24 hours but I won't be blaming anyone, it was the weather that caused it.

I saw first hand how the Western Power guys were working really long hard shifts in severe gale force winds and torrential rain to get people restored, I say well done guys and thank you :thumbsup:
 
I installed a 10KW generator 2 year ago which will keep just about everything working that is needed. Since it is connected to my natural gas line there is no going out for fuel which can be one of the biggest problems with keeping a generator running if the outage is for days or even weeks.
 
I bought a generator as well. It is only going to get worse over time when we will get more blackouts for whatever reason.

Money well spent.
 
We've been lucky in Staffs but can only imagine what its been like on the coast. I was reading on an American forum the other day how customers have been screaming at power companies because of power blackouts due to the snow storms and how dare they let the power fail and that its a right to have power 24/7 no matter what and looking to sue their power provider :roll: I think the problem is people flick the switch but don't understand what it takes. Just shows what a materialistic world were in now.

Being without water can be as bad as we had our mains burst under the house and trying to find someone prepared to fix it was a nightmare.

Tim.
 
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