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Life in the country means a peaceful existence away from the strains of the city - but it also necessitates a certain level of preparedness for lengthy power cuts.
Electricity outages can occur on a regular basis in the countryside, and, in the depths of winter, the prospect of being without heat and light fills few with excitement.
Plan ahead though, and you can minimise the disruption that power cuts cause.
Below are some tips on how you can prepare for the unexpected, along with advice on how to cope when the power goes off.
If you know your area to be susceptible to power cuts, it’s a good idea to keep candles (and matches) or torches in an easily-accessible part of the home. Remember, when you need them, there’s every chance it will be pitch black.
Keep a torch by your fuse box, too. If your neighbours still have electricity when yours is off, the loss of power is most likely to be a tripped switch. Power can be easily restored by flicking the switch back into position – but you will need a light source in order to do it.
If neighbours are also experiencing a power outage, the local or national network is likely to be at fault.
To make sure, you can call your electricity supplier - whose number you should be able to find on a recent electricity bill. If the company is already aware of a problem, a recorded message will probably greet your call.
It’s advisable to leave one light switched on throughout the power cut so that you are made aware the moment power returns to your home.
However, all sensitive electronic equipment such as televisions, music systems and computers should be switched off and unplugged. Leaving them on could lead to a potentially damaging power surge when your electricity comes back.
For the duration of the power cut, try not to open your fridge or freezer door. Freezers should continue to keep food frozen for around eight hours – but if the outage lasts much longer than this then the contents will likely need throwing away. Consult the Food Standards Agency website if you're at all uncertain.
Don’t simply refreeze thawed items when the power comes back on.
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