I still think it is no bad idea to have a second register, even an imperfect one, with the electricity supplier. If there is a local distribution failure, their database will throw up exactly who is affected. Other organisations won't know the precise boundaries of the fault. And I am sure they will do nothing special for a 1 hour fault if only babies or pensioners are affected, but that might well matter for someone on oxygen.
I've been more conscious of this ever since I read "Overload" by Arthur Hailey. Its a good read - he was the author of "Airport" (book is better than the film).
Mentioning no regular posters to this NG, obviously ;-)
I think the main issue is those who are vulnerable due to poor health in old age - some of them may not be mobile enough to quickly put on additional clothing (they may even need the help of a carer) and their metabolism may not be robust enough to generate enough heat to keep them warm even if they are wrapped up.
Tricky if your woolly jumper is upstairs but you need the stair lift to get it.
There are also those who depend on a power recliner to rest comfortably during the day and could be unable to get out of it when reclined - those chairs tend to sit you upright then lean forward to propel you towards your Zimmer frame. You could freeze and starve if stuck in one of them.
So a register of those who are vulnerable is a very good idea - especially if it is coordinated with support services who can go to the house and help if the power is out.
Nobody so far has said that they are 65 and feel elderly :-)
Cheers
Dave R
yes, certainly worthwhile the supply company knowing where vulnerable people live. I wouldn't put a healthy baby in that category.
Aren't they all battery driven? My parents' one is.
I thought most stair lifts were battery backed for that very reason? ;-)
Cheers, T i m
Stair lifts are battery powered but I don't know how many trips you could make on one with the charger off.
That's why they also have battery backup if they are bought for the immobile.
I doubt if anyone tests the battery when they should.
Turning off the houses that don?t have anything in them that will be a problem with no power.
Because each house can be turned off remotely.
Even sillier than you usually manage.
Doesn?t need to be done quickly.
So the set of questions should have asked whether they have one.
But there is no reason why someone who needs a carer to help them to put on clothes is any different after the power has failed than anyone else.
and their
There is no one like that.
You could get real radical and have another kept downstairs.
But if you are in that situation, you should have some way of calling for assistance if you live alone and so can just use that if the lack of power means you are stuck there.
Makes more sense for those who live alone and who likely to end up in that situation to have some way of calling for assistance all the time, not just when the power is out.
I'm quite a bit older than that and don?t feel elderly at all.
With the right smart meters and the right setup they can selectively switch different circuits on and off.
How they are going to manage that without a significant rewire of the owner's property?
Also it can be a bad idea to drop power to a tumble dryer without letting it go though it's cool down cycle at the end.
Wireless-enabled plugs on appliances. Or wireless-enabled appliances in the case of your tumble dryer - cut off the heater element but leave the motor/fan etc running.
Owain
How do they stop the user bypassing plugs? Unless it's going to be a voluntary deal where "at certain times, you unit price will hike, but we can turn off your power hungry appliances at those times".
It sounds a mess - and I would not accept it.
It's all about accepting the basic principle that the state has the right to monitor and control your energy usage.
So in the end you will be unable to exercise freedom in this regard.
Its basically just another part of the process of taking the ability to exercise personal (financial) choices away from citizens and devolving that power to the state.
Ultimately the state owns everything and takes all your income, and gives you back what it considers you need or have a right to. It's just communism in action, but called socialism so as not to frighten the horses...
With perfectly benevolent all seeing all powerful politicians in control what could possibly go wrong? I mean, you have to trust the EU, they are so much more than mere fallible human beings aren't they.
Great and Glorious Leaders one and all!
Doesn't help much to selectively restore houses on FAILED supply circuits though, does it?
what about customers with old babies ? :-0
Young Elderly people aren't covered I guess.
It would need to be a pretty large plug to accommodate a 3 kW switch and electronics. Then the multi-core cable needed for separate circuits.
You've been believing what you'd seen on TV again. ;-)
Yes but such are already available in adapter form
Owain
But helps a lot if the problem is the lack of generating capacity at a time of peak demand.
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.