From time to time, we experience power cuts in our area. The severity of power cuts always varies, as does the length of time you are without power. Furthermore, they can occur due to all kinds of different reasons, and the reason behind a power cut often determines how bad it actually is.
The main issue with power cuts, is that they are really just a huge inconvenience. We sometimes take our electricity for granted without even realising, and it’s only when it gets taken away from us that we realise just how much we rely on it. However, the longer you are without power the bigger issues that surface. For example, we are now firmly into our winter months and the weather is getting pretty bitter, so if you were to have a power cut, this would result in a loss of central heating, and this can actually be dangerous depending on the temperatures and the length of time you are without heating.
We wanted to tell you a bit more about why we get power cuts, common problems, and how to act when you notice one.
The main causes
As we mentioned briefly, there can be all kinds of causes for power cuts. One that is very common, is damage to cables. This can be caused for example if someone is conducting some kind of work in the road that involves digging, whether this be for professional or personal reasons, as it can interfere with your power source and cause a stopped flow. Furthermore, power cuts can simply be due to a failure in the electricity network, which may only require a quick and simple fix
During the bad weather, things get a little more risky. Damage to power lines can result in loss of power in quite a large area. This can be caused by things like fallen trees, lightning, or anything hazardous that comes into contact with the power lines during periods of severe weather conditions.
If the source of your electricity becomes damaged at any point it can have a knock on effect. Damage can be started by all kinds of things, but unfortunately it is sometimes unavoidable. You don’t tend to notice any issue or damage until the power goes out in your home.
Consequences
The scale of power cuts are always unique to the situation. It could affect anything from the houses on your street, to everywhere in your town. Of course the immediate consequences are that you are left without electricity in your home with no real indication as to when power will be regained. This can prove to be incredibly disruptive and troublesome.
Throughout winter, perhaps the worst thing about power cuts is having to go without heating. This isn’t so bad if the problem is fixed quickly, but if it lasts for a long time this can get very stressful. Aside from central heating, you are left without access to any electrical devices, nor the ability to cook food. Similarly to heating, this only starts to become a more serious issue if the power is gone for a length of time.
What to do if you are experiencing a power cut
If you lose power in your home, the first thing you should do is check your fuse box to decipher whether it is a problem specific to your house, or a genuine power cut that is also affecting other people. Following this, if you have access to the internet, you should check to see if the power cut has already been reported online. If you are the first, you can then fill out the details or call up the professionals so that they can be alerted to the problem and send someone out to fix it as soon as possible.
A good way to deal with power cuts, especially throughout winter, is to always stay prepared. This could simply be having a torch handy, along with plenty of blankets and layers to stay warm. You should also try and ensure that you have enough food that doesn’t require being cooked with electrical appliances.
If you would like to know more or have any enquiries, we would be more than happy to help! Simply get in touch with us via our contact page and we will be able to offer the necessary help and advice.
