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Coronavirus and electricity supply.

broadgage
If the coronavirus becomes widespread in the UK, is the electricity supply likely to be interrupted ?

My concerns would be lack of key staff in power stations, whether caused by sickness, fear of sickness, or transport restrictions.

What about "normal" breakdowns of generating equipment that cant be promptly repaired for want of imported spares ?

And considering transmission and distribution, again what about staff shortages, lack of imported spares such as jointing kits and the like.


As just one example, tyres are ALREADY in short supply. I doubt that the electrical generating and distribution industries keep ANY spare tyres for company vehicles, relying instead on leased or hired vehicles, who in turn rely on buying tyres as needed with almost no stock holding.


Whilst the load is reducing at this time of year, looking ahead, what about NEXT winter ?


What do others think ?
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    Well, it is 20 years since we had the Millennium Bug threatening to turn us into a lawless anarchic society living in some kind of Mad Max dystopian fantasy - so I guess we are due another one soon. Looks like it's gonna be Coronavirus that will kick start the unashamed profiteering this time round.


    Come 2021, ohh how we laughed


    Regards


    OMS
  • 0
    Selfishly, assuming it cannot be caught twice, and that one is not in the high risk group, one might argue, it is worth catching it early if it would otherwise be caught later anyway, so that one can be well cared for, (and also to be back up and running again when everyone else is off work) .

    Not sure about stocks of stuff - it may be that there are troubles if there are fewer deliveries of natural gas or similar, and yes repairs needing parts to be shipped in may be trickier. I suspect however that electricity is in a better place than those that deal in more perishable produce.

  • 0

    mapj1:

    Selfishly, assuming it cannot be caught twice, and that one is not in the high risk group, one might argue, it is worth catching it early if it would otherwise be caught later anyway, so that one can be well cared for, (and also to be back up and running again when everyone else is off work) .




    That is more or less my view - get it now so that if you need medical assistance, beds are available; but there is of course the possibility of not getting it at all, so I am not going looking for it.


    However, if I understand the Government's approach correctly, the aim of containment and delay is not so much to reduce the number of cases overall, but to reduce the rate of new cases. The area under the curve will remain the same, but the curve will be squashed. Then, all being well, the peak demand for medical care will be reduced.


    I don't see electricity supplies being affected, but you may have to wait longer for that smart meter. ?

  • 0

    Chris Pearson:



    That is more or less my view - get it now so that if you need medical assistance, beds are available; but there is of course the possibility of not getting it at all, so I am not going looking for it.



    There is also the possibility that you will catch it and not realise due to having only minor symptoms - and in fact may already have had it if you have had a heavy cold or recent flu symptoms.

    I think that the electricity supply will probably be fine, as long as nothing out of the ordinary hits the system. If there are an increased number of people off and something critical happens (e.g. storms bringing down power lines) where intervention is necessary it may take longer than anticipated to recover the network.

  • 0
    Ah! a Pox Party!    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pox_party


    Think I prefer an alcohol gargle to prevent infection  ?

    Clive

  • 0
    Similar historical concerns across the pond.....

    http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/sites/default/files/public/downloads/cidrap_coal_report.pdf


    Z.
  • 0
    Channel 4 television showed a t.v. drama a few years ago entitled "Blackout" about a long power cut in the U.K. Well worth a watch if you can source it.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/tv-and-radio-reviews/10296902/Blackout-Channel-4-review.html


    A short clip....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbXuZUOwUt0


    Z.
  • 0
    Maybe if they get worried, people will start trying to stockpile electricity...…...
  • 0
    I have stockpiled 2Kwh of electricity, at a cost of almost £100. Shelf life at least 7 years.

  • 0
    well in that sense I can lay my hands on small generator and a jerry can in about 10 mins if required. The time to safely patch it to the house electrics is longer.

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