What to do in a power cut – the homeowners guide

From adverse weather to faulty wiring and equipment, power cuts and outages are regular occurrences in some areas, often bringing with them power loss and interruptions to households up and down the country. This go-to-guide aims to keep you and your family in-the-know with some handy tips and practices to follow should you find yourself without power.

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Preparing your business for a power cut

This go-to-guide aims to get you and your work force back up and running as quickly and efficiently as possible with some handy tips and practices to follow when the power goes down. The following information also provides you with useful contact details should your business find itself without power.

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Why do power cuts happen?

Power cuts happen for a number of reasons. Whether planned or unplanned, WB Power Services are on-hand to serve your temporary or emergency power needs. In the event of a power outage, we can be with you within 2-4 hours, depending on your location.

DNO infrastructure damage

One of the main causes of power outages in the UK is damage to the infrastructure and machinery of energy companies. Occasionally, it is possible that some crucial parts have been taken. Some minerals are valuable enough that people may steal them in an attempt to benefit from them, like copper. The ageing and degradation of most of the UK’s electricity infrastructure is another major issue. There were 640 documented outages in 2015 as opposed to 537 in 2014, a rise of more than 19%. Infrastructure and equipment are under increasing pressure from rising demand and are finding it difficult to keep up.

 

Business infrastructure damage

Business facilities can commonly lose power through no direct fault of the distributor network operator (DNO). For example, the age of buildings can have a strong effect on the reliability and condition of the internal electrical wiring. With frequent use, damage from the dilapidation of buildings, as well as damage building occupants can have an adverse effect on the reliability of the power source.

Poor Weather

Adverse weather can cause all sorts of issues that may affect power performance. High winds, falling trees and other debris may damage power lines, leading to outages. Throughout the colder months, snow and ice can also lead to damage to national power infrastructure.  Whilst there is nothing you can do to control the weather, there are strong mitigation you can put in place to keep the power running, such as hiring a generator.

Poor weather conditions can lead to power cuts in the UK too. During a storm is a particularly bad time to be without power, when everyone needs heat and light to stay safe. High winds, falling trees and other debris can all affect infrastructure, such as power lines. Snow and ice might cause problems too, and we could be seeing a rise in colder winters. There’s nothing that you can do about bad weather, so the best thing you can do is be prepared for these situations. Having a generator for your home or business should help to keep you going.

Planned Outages

Sometimes, it is necessary for power companies to perform maintenance on their power lines, which obviously leads to planned outages. Despite being planned, they are still inconvinient to the end user, whether it is a business or a homeowner. Your power company should in touch well in advance to notify you of the planned outage. They should be able to tell you how long the outage is going to go on for, as well as a fixed end and start date. This should give you time to prepare.