We’ve got into the bad habit of saying ‘when the lights go out’ when we mean regular power cuts, as if that was the worst that could happen. I thought I’d start a thread so people could put their thoughts down. I was going to kick off with some of my own ideas but ended up writing a poem. Weird or what? Must be global warming, sceptics are always writing ditties.

PS, no, this isn’t about me and sorry if it appears twice, it vanished the first time.

WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT.

The electric lights went out when I was young.
It was tough but then we hadn’t had them long.
Mum knew how to keep a home well lit.
Well, enough light to eat or knit
And playing in the dark was kind of fun,
More than listening to the aircraft gun.

But to a growing child of seven
The best source of light was sent from heaven
And we had no need of generated light,
When fresh air and sunshine eased our plight
And games weren’t powered by docking station,
Nor batteries needed to plug in conversion.

We didn’t blame the miners or electric board
Because the problem was from bombs well scored,
On target at the local power plant
Or in local streets close enough to make you pant
And pray the Lord that all you lost that night
Was mains water and electric light.

In the seventies it was my turn
And I was the parent holding firm
Keeping young ones occupied in game
And cooking on a camping flame.
I helped with homework by candle light
And bundled everyone in wool and down at night

It wasn’t scary but slightly grim,
A life’s not easy on a permanent dim
And even then we took for granted
The grinding work that machines transplanted
But being without we could withstand
And do again by strength of hand.

At strike’s end we heaved a heartfelt sigh,
To know that now our modern world would cry
In anger, if they ever tried to plunge our world to night
Because the players had clashed in fight.
To recognise that power was ours by need
And not a luxury at risk from fault or greed.

So here we are again and darkness is predicted
But this time my life is terribly restricted.
I won’t be watching vids upon my phone,
Instead like others in this home,
I’ll stare at nothing because the TV sets are dead
And I can’t keep new tech stuff in my head.

My carer would never let me have a candle,
In case I’m burned and cause a scandal
And meals will be eaten cold
Because the camping fire’s too bold
For people trained in health and safety.
There’s no hazard in cold soup or gravy.

When the day ends I’ll wait in growing dark,
My ticking clock the only way to mark
The hours it takes before it’s time to move from chair to bed
And hear the cries of others echo in my head,
Too old to know why we’ve been turned once more
To point where power is a way of keeping score.

Twixt those who argue how to save mankind,
Their thoughts too high, no petty troubles in their mind
Of what it’s like to be a helpless invalid
Dependent on the national power grid
And though they swear the turbines will keep turning,
My lowest need’s to keep those damned lights burning.

From recent more local outages what major infrastructure goes down in a power cut. IE how much will telecoms/internet be affected in a 6 hour outage for example or expected rolling power cuts?

On Radio 2 yesterday, one energy expert said a 20-minute power cut in London last year - which one would think was a pretty trivial affair - resulted in the Tube being out of action for 3 hours, because it takes that long to reboot all their systems.

Try reading this document it's the Plan for managing electricity emergencies (up to date)

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electricity-supply-emergency-code-revised-january-2005

"If a prolonged electricity shortage affects a specific region, or the whole country, electricity rationing may be necessary. The electricity supply emergency code outlines the process for ensuring fair distribution nationally while still protecting those who require special treatment, using a process known as ‘Rota disconnections’.'

the roll-out of data networks since the 70s has been phenomenal. Back then, we could more or less cope with rolling 4 hour power cuts - 4 hours on and 4 hours off. These days, most chain stores/pubs/restaurants/banks would have to close. ATMs would not work. Credit card authorisations would have to revert to "sign here, please". Not to mention the stuff that happens inside hospitals. No fuel.....an hour without electricity would lead to chaos in today's society.

Ah the day job left me Geoff, the company ran out of electricity but since it's only about my third poem since school I'll wait before I apply for a job as poet laureate.

I agree I don't think thousands will die because of power cuts but we would suffer in ways it's hard to imagine in advance. Sure, in the past we got on with life but what about today and all the rules that must be followed. What would happen if the power was cut to a child minder or school? Would they still continue or would parents have to leave work to collect their kids? Not too much of a problem if the powercuts are only between 4pm and 8pm but earlier in the day would be difficult. The elderly would suffer most with all sorts of things running on mains - from emergency call buttons to nebulisers.

Of course unscheduled cuts would be a much more difficult proposition.

ok guys...just how many companies and orgs have gensets available...I know from experience of telcos and ISPs and finance houses that they have plans for outages, (and I helped to cost a lot of them) ...but obviously I do not know about the groceries and fuel stores. I see no signs of obvious back-up power resources but, if we are to survive, these are crucial areas.

Does anyone know what effect Japan's loss of all of its nuclear power stations had on the economy, health, welfare? I have no idea of the answer, just interested. You must have studied it closely to have come to your conclusions for the UK. Was it the catastrophe you are predicting?

Think of the children, everybody!

When we had power cuts in the 70s, it didn't really interfere with our entertainment (we played I Spy by candlelight): kids could still get the Monopoly out or attempt to break their wrists with their Clackers. Now, virtually all under-16 entertainment depends upon electricity. Just watch a whole generation of uber-green eco-freaks turn into climate sceptics overnight if they can't txt each other interminably or tell all their friends (all 587,00 of them) what they just had for dinner on Facebook.

Jun 30, 2013 at 9:21 AM | Turning Tide

My guess was that mobile infrastructure would stay up for a while. If so txting each other would be a very popular activity. How Long would Bishop Hill stay up?

Things like trains, lifts etc... would be an obvious major hit as pointed out above.

The insurgency in Iraq was helped stirred by constant power cuts .In a Middle Eastern country where Refrigeration and Air Conditioning are not Luxuries they re necessities.The American invaders may have posted guards around the Iraqi oil terminals but not they forget Iraqi power stations.

The Helmond River Hydro Electric Dam is the only source of Electricity in Afghanistan.Watch Ross Kemp in Afghanistan. How many NATO Troops including British troops have died trying to hold the Strategic Helmond Valley from the Taliban.The rest of the rural provinces they've abandoned.

In Greece they have shut down the Main Television Broadcaster.That is like closing down the BBC ITV Channel Four and Five.I dont do Doom and Disaster that why i am a Climate Skeptic.
What happens when they have to shut down the Greek Power Stations.Heard fanciful stories of children being abandoned and scavenging in rubbish Tips in Athens .This is a 21st Century European Union Nation.

The Treaty of Rome was supposed to stop another war from breaking out in Europe They already had one civil war in the Balkans in Yugoslavia and is next door to Bankrupt Greece slowly running out of German Euros.

Forget Eco Power Cuts imaging .Austerity Power Cuts not just Greece but Spain and Ireland presently.

In the UK 2 years ago there was 2 days of Rioting some of it around my ways in South London in Catford Lewisham and Croydon I all heard was Sirens and Helicopters.Imagine those people instead of looting Foot Locker Currys and PC World are looting Sainsburys for canned Food and Bottled Water.

Iraq, Afghanistan, poverty in Greece, civil war in the Balkans and all from someone who doesn't do doom and disaster. Reckon it's gonna get rough round here if we should have a power cut during EastEnders. I'm gonna clean my pa's old hunting rifle and put some barricades on the doors. Best be prepared, eh?

Re: preparations - make sure you get the licence sorted out:

http://www.sportingshooter.co.uk/features/ask_the_experts_2_8808/firearms_law_1_1529690

although I think this sort of thing is a bigger risk:

http://www.camdennewjournal.com/news/2013/apr/patient-safety-fears-hospital-hit-two-day-power-failure

An embittered tone? What a strange suggestion. I have no reason to be bitter. I'm surprised you think my comment the most notable or worthy of comment in the last days. Hector's was certainly more interesting and Jamspid's undoubtedly the most alarmist. Your concern would be better directed there, at someone who seeks to spread alarm by equating power cuts at home with turmoil in Iraq or Afghanistan. Does such rhetoric not bother you a little?

It bothers me too, Missy. I've said it here before, the idea that if we keep going with current environmental policies, then we're heading for economic tipping points, and mass disorder, and blah blah is just another brand of alarmism exactly the same as climate alarmism.

All alarmism is meant to scare people into a course of political action. Just because I happen to agree with that action doesn't mean I'm happy with it as a mechanism.

But c'est la vie. Everyone with a political axe to grind tries to make out that we're headed for disaster if we don't do exactly what they say. The trouble with the climate alarmist one is people don't see it for what it is - just another thing to scare us with.

As Hector’s account illustrates, it’s the smallest thing that can make larger processes fail.

The problem with cutting supply margins to the bone is that it puts a domino in place. If most things go smoothly then no problem but what other dominos are being set up to form a series of moderate irritations that could result in a major problem. Each toppling domino creates a wider spread of the crisis.

There are the obvious problems of potential pipe or equipment damage for the gas supply from Europe and our 15 days storage. Ditto the electricity connectors.

We have a potential in the generating unions for strike action because jobs are being lost as stations are closing and no new ones are being built. The unions are possibly a spent force but will austerity lend them new vigour? Are any of the generating companies close to the edge financially?

There could be a new petrol blockade of the ports given the ever spiralling prices or a green group could decide on action at a critical moment.

There could be an epidemic (and there are three nightmare candidates and numerous minor ones in the wings) or even just a bad flu season, making key workers short staffed. Which in turn could lead to tired, error prone workers.

Now we're not talking end of the world stuff, just major discomfort like the Winter of Discontent. We have already been down graded in the financial credibility stakes, would serious power problems worsen that? Are there any more dominoes?