IIRC the winter of discontent and the regular power cuts were different events, some years apart.

The regular power cuts resulted from the coal miners striking and power stations running short of coal.

The winter of discontent was due to a series of strikes, largely by local authority employees. Dead unburied, rubbish piled up  etc.

As regards any future power cuts, people these days are indeed ill prepared. As already noted, most people no longer have paraffin heaters, and this fuel is no longer widely delivered in small volumes. Paraffin lamps similarly. Bottled gas heaters are available, but the gas is ALREADY in short supply and hugely expensive.

Also in the 1970s, more people seemed to have very basic electrical skills, to the extent of being able to improvise lighting from vehicle batteries or large dry cells.

Torches, and torch batteries were in very short supply. I made for friends, neighbours, and relatives, some very simple battery lights. A type 126 door bell battery with an M.E.S. batten holder. No switch needed, insert bulb to light, remove bulb to extinguish. A 3.5 volt 0.25 amp bulb gave enough light for safe movement in a large room, or permitted reading if placed close by. The 126 batteries were not used for lighting and therefore in plentiful supply.

IIRC the winter of discontent and the regular power cuts were different events, some years apart.

The regular power cuts resulted from the coal miners striking and power stations running short of coal.

The winter of discontent was due to a series of strikes, largely by local authority employees. Dead unburied, rubbish piled up  etc.

As regards any future power cuts, people these days are indeed ill prepared. As already noted, most people no longer have paraffin heaters, and this fuel is no longer widely delivered in small volumes. Paraffin lamps similarly. Bottled gas heaters are available, but the gas is ALREADY in short supply and hugely expensive.

Also in the 1970s, more people seemed to have very basic electrical skills, to the extent of being able to improvise lighting from vehicle batteries or large dry cells.

Torches, and torch batteries were in very short supply. I made for friends, neighbours, and relatives, some very simple battery lights. A type 126 door bell battery with an M.E.S. batten holder. No switch needed, insert bulb to light, remove bulb to extinguish. A 3.5 volt 0.25 amp bulb gave enough light for safe movement in a large room, or permitted reading if placed close by. The 126 batteries were not used for lighting and therefore in plentiful supply.