Content
Threat of gas rationing this winter is growing, with possible outage.
And a gas outage is likely to be followed by a power outage as most individuals will turn to the electrical grid. Indeed, electrical network that might not be able to provide the necessary electricity for two simple reasons:
- gas power plants will not be able to generate electricity if they are out of gas
- aging nuclear power plant are under maintenance in many countries (France, Germany…)
What to do if you have an outage
Gaz cut
- Make sure you can easily access warm clothes and bedding such as sleeping bags or extra blankets, especially during colder months
Power cut
Similarly to gas cut:
- Make sure you can easily access warm clothes and bedding such as sleeping bags or extra blankets, especially during colder months, as electricity might not help
- If you have a fireplace then check your wood stock
In addition:
- Keep alternative lighting, ideally a torch and batteries, in an easy to access location. Candles may be an alternative too
- Have a power bank to store some energy for your mobile phone (solar panel might not help much in winter)
- Have a corded telephone that does not rely on electricity. Most cordless phones won’t work when there is no electricity
- Have a battery powered radio available so you can listen to updates
- Consider having an alternative available for cooking, such as a gas or BBQ and make sure your gas bottle doesn’t run out
- Consider using surge protectors on sensitive appliances to avoid any damage from a power interruption
- If you depend on medical equipment that requires electricity, make sure you have a backup plan and if you have any concerns either call your doctor or head to your nearest hospital. You should also let your electricity retailer know that you are medically dependent on electricity and they will keep a record of that.
- Avoid subway or train, as you might be stuck
