Prepping for this winter's potential electricity crisis

[jansman]

Yorkshire Andy is right,this has potential to be big. In fact,this is going to be real SHTF for the majority of the population.

The first item in Andy’s list; Economic. Yesterday my boss asked me my thoughts on energy prices. I said that come January 1st , if there is the projected 50% increase on the the increases already,then all we can hope for is raw,economic collapse. If folks don’t have any money,they have nothing to spend,so nothing to spend ,no buying,no business left. He quietly agreed that that was his thought too. We are a similar age,and have been in the food game through some tough recessions and crises- and we both agreed that this is a big’un.

Fortunately,after the last increase,the boss fixed our electricity for four years. It went from £4000 per month to almost £7000. We use a lot ,mainly in the bakery,but also 17 refrigerator/ freezer units - and big ones. We have a colleague who has a farm shop nearby. Successful too. Until the rises. His annual bill was an average 17,000 per annum. It’s now going to be £70,000! Bear in mind,there is no price cap for business. The farm shop will close after Christmas. I am guessing that will happen a lot.

However,if that happens to the intrepid Jansman, I am sure he will find a way forward! I’ll just finish me tea and go fishing now. Don’t need leccy for that!

[diamond lil]

I think this is a great topic, good posts.

[Kiwififer]

My slow cooker broke a while back, I replaced it with an excellent soup maker which can make soup in 20 minutes.

However, if I remember correctly, a slow cooker doesn’t use that much electricity and it can make a fair amount of food which can be used over a few meal times.

So next pay day, I’m off to get one. Any suggestions as to which one will be as ever, well received

[izzy_mack]

I have been prepping for this for a while and apart from the obvious food, candles etc. I live in an area with NO mobile signal and have a phone which is part of my internet connection so needs electric, I bought an old fashioned plug into the phoneline direct, no electric needed so I still have a means of communication with the world.
I have a wood burner which I use to cook on as well, only small pans as it's in an old hole from a fireplace and flue comes out the top, it's quite small so only a little space but it boils a kettle (slowly) and I can make mince and tatties etc on it. Have an old calor gas 2 ring cooker with a tiny oven ( I think it came from a boat) and camping stoves + fuel.
I squirreled away some cash a while ago in case ATMs failed and smaller shops might open but only be able to take cash. Might add to that as I can always use it if need be anyway.
Have rechargeable torches as well as battery and plenty batteries, a windup/battery radio. A power pack to recharge phones/torches if need be. Must look out charger for the car and get into the habit of using it to save on electric and for when there is none.
Have a load of candles and paraffin lamps and wax and wicks to make more.
Have thermos flasks but intent to get another to store boiled water. mainly for first thing in the morning until I get the stove lit.
Have a private water supply and checked, it will still work without power but the uvlights to kill bugs won't, just the filters but have been assured that the neighbourhood has used this water supply for a long time before the uv was fitted and there has never been a problem.
Am now trying to figure out how to keep my bills down a bit and spending what time/energy I can on building up my log supply ( have enough for even a hard winter but want to have more than enough)

[GillyBee]

I saw 3 push to operate AA LED lights new in a charity shop today for £3. Grabbed at once. I think I will mount them next to key light switches for quick access to basic light.

[diamond lil]

Does anybody else practise moving around their house in the dark?

[Frnc]

Regardless of this current crisis, I've always had a head torch hanging off the cellar door, and the last few years I've had another on the bed post where I can reach it if I wake up to no power. I also have spare batteries for it next to the bed. And I've had a torch within reach too. I've had that for 7 years, and it's still got the same battery. I've only charged it once or twice. The battery is a 18650. It's similar to this, but mine came with the 18650 battery. https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Bright-Zooma ... 018OMJGCS/

[jansman]

Does anybody else practise moving around their house in the dark?

Not quite in the dark, but I know what you mean. Our furniture has to stay in EXACTLY the same place, as our old dog is now blind. He does very well, but he doesn’t like change.

[GillyBee]

We wander about in the dark quite often both in and out of the house. Pouring a glass of water in the dark is routine. The other day I happily headed downstairs and across the garden to the workshop although I did have to put the light on once inside to find what I wanted. Likewise in recent camping trips we could see no point at all in using the torch to head across the field to the loos and back and complained hard about the number of overly bright head torches pointing in our direction and spoiling our night sight

[Paracord1945]

I saw 3 push to operate AA LED lights new in a charity shop today for £3. Grabbed at once. I think I will mount them next to key light switches for quick access to basic light.

Awesome, well found and that's a steal at that price.