Power cut hits huge swathes of the UK

No reasons given for the failure of the national Grid.
Is there something more sinister we are not being told about?

Andy wrote:No reasons given for the failure of the national Grid.
Is there something more sinister we are not being told about?

Russians! They are probably practicing on you, in preparation for war with the US.

y'know Andy...you are round the bend...you need to book yourself a chair in a home for the feeble minded and hide there away from ant form of excitement including news.

the power was out for 50 mins only and was due to the loss of two generator units

oh WOW..........

but of course you snowflakes cant manage even for that long without power.......


I didnt even reach my neck of the woods, but it wouldnt have mattered if it did, given my ability to generate my own power. God )or something) help you lot if ever something serious happened......

(not that I would have noticed a cut that short anyway....everything held up on the automatic change overs, and I was out fly fishing for trout anyway........)

You need to do better research.
Over half of England and Wales has been affected.
By 2 little generators?
1 was in Wales, the other in Yorshire.

Do me a favour...

Explain why a big chunk of southern half of England IS STILL out, which gets much of its power from France.

https://mol.im/a/7342081

BBC News - Major power failure affects homes and transport
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49300025

Transport strife across England and Wales after widespread power cuts - live

https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2019/aug/09/transport-strife-across-england-and-wales-after-power-cuts-disrupt-rail-and-road-latest-updates?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Copy_to_clipboard


I saw this on the Sun app and thought you'd be interested

UK power cut plunges Britain into darkness as National Grid outage sparks travel chaos with trains, tubes and traffic lights paralysed

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/9691385/power-cut-uk-trains-tubes-power-lights-outage/
.I'm afraid your puerile comment makes you look a bigger fool than a lot of people already think.

Victor wrote:...the power was out for 50 mins only and was due to the loss of two generator units...

That's exactly the cover I would use if I were Russian.

loss of two generator sets would affect a large area....due to the knock on effect whereby an area thats lost its power tries to draw power from somewhere else (like a neighbouring area) this oveloads THAT area and makes it shut down, so then IT tries to pull power, along with the original area from somewhere else...and so on....

only when manually isolated at a control center will the process stop, by an operator totally isolating the affected regions....

has happened before and on a very large scale in america.

The south of england may still be experiencing difficulties with this problem, the system simply tries to draw too much power from the link with france......and hence they have been locked out untill the load can be applied in a slow piecemeal manner....

I dont care WHAT the normal current capacity of the cable from france is...it simply (along with its associated control gear) cannot withstand the sudden application of a massive load instantly. it needs loading up slowly.....rather basic electrics really. And the longer the cable the worse the problem due to inductive and capacitive effects......

Original Quill wrote:

Victor wrote:...the power was out for 50 mins only and was due to the loss of two generator units...

That's exactly the cover I would use if I were Russian.

in these matters quill your credibility is in minus figures.......

Victor wrote:..only when manually isolated at a control center will the process stop, by an operator totally isolating the affected regions....

Or the GRU in St. Petersburg, which has successfully hacked in to the grid.

Sometimes, Victor, your own credibility (ego?) defeats you.

Vic explained what caused the problem , why do some people try to make it "Red's under the Bed"?
Away with the Fairies some of you !

I reckon it's all them wombles and squirrels wot done it...

Gnawing away on all those poles and wires..

So if it wasnt the Russians, it was Vic's beloved Tories who have underinvested in Nation Power for the 9 years they have been in power.
No doubt he will blame Corbyn, McDonnell and Abbot.

It isn't the Tories that have under invested...its the owners, however, I have long said that essential infrastructure, like power, water and public transport should be owned by the state, not private interests.....one of Maggie's (and blairs) stupider mistakes, aided and abetted by the E U.
Moreover, the design of the grid is fundamentally flawed.

And we need more power stations, which means nuclear, and these should be built by security cleared BRITISH firms, employing only security cleared BRITISH workers, overseen by security cleared independent inspectors with a brief to hammer all and any defects.

Victorismyhero wrote:It isn't the Tories that have under invested...its the owners, however, I have long said that essential infrastructure, like power, water and public transport should be owned by the state, not private interests.....one of Maggie's (and blairs) stupider mistakes, aided and abetted by the E U.
Moreover, the design of the grid is fundamentally flawed.

And we need more power stations, which means nuclear, and these should be built by security cleared BRITISH firms, employing only security cleared BRITISH workers, overseen by security cleared independent inspectors with a brief to hammer all and any defects.

Someone get me a glass of whisky.

Vic and I are in agreement., mostly. But Blair hasn't had any power since 2007/8, he is out of the equation.

Victorismyhero wrote:It isn't the Tories that have under invested...its the owners, however, I have long said that essential infrastructure, like power, water and public transport should be owned by the state, not private interests.....one of Maggie's (and blairs) stupider mistakes, aided and abetted by the E U.
Moreover, the design of the grid is fundamentally flawed.

And we need more power stations, which means nuclear, and these should be built by security cleared BRITISH firms, employing only security cleared BRITISH workers, overseen by security cleared independent inspectors with a brief to hammer all and any defects.

Too true, that...

Essential infrastructure and resources --  power transmission, water supplies, soil quality, an essential 'critical mass' of forests, the actual "backbone" for communications systems, highways and main trunk railways, those lands/ecosystems considered valuable enough to be national parks and reserves --  should always be kept under government control and responsible 'stewardship'..

WhoseYourWolfie wrote:

Victorismyhero wrote:It isn't the Tories that have under invested...its the owners, however, I have long said that essential infrastructure, like power, water and public transport should be owned by the state, not private interests.....one of Maggie's (and blairs) stupider mistakes, aided and abetted by the E U.
Moreover, the design of the grid is fundamentally flawed.

And we need more power stations, which means nuclear, and these should be built by security cleared BRITISH firms, employing only security cleared BRITISH workers, overseen by security cleared independent inspectors with a brief to hammer all and any defects.

Too true, that...

Essential infrastructure and resources --  power transmission, water supplies, soil quality, an essential 'critical mass' of forests, the actual "backbone" for communications systems, highways and main trunk railways, those lands/ecosystems considered valuable enough to be national parks and reserves --  should always be kept under government control and responsible 'stewardship'..

While I agree with you in principle, you wouldn't be saying that had you been around here in the 60s and 70s when government and delegated local and regional control of essential services, largely by unqualified councillors and appointees, was utterly shambolic.

There would have to be one hell of a change in approach and some sort of guarantee that MPs and town hall councillors were kept well at arm's length from the the duties of professional managers and staff in ensuring that the services actually worked.

erm....Fred.......I'm 65 this september.........
and i agree...keep the politoico's out of it except in terms of broad policy AND no unions and it being illegal to strike...but guarantee wages via an appropriate wage board....

Fred Moletrousers wrote:

WhoseYourWolfie wrote:


Too true, that...

Essential infrastructure and resources --  power transmission, water supplies, soil quality, an essential 'critical mass' of forests, the actual "backbone" for communications systems, highways and main trunk railways, those lands/ecosystems considered valuable enough to be national parks and reserves --  should always be kept under government control and responsible 'stewardship'..

While I agree with you in principle, you wouldn't be saying that had you been around here in the 60s and 70s when government and delegated local and regional control of essential services, largely by unqualified councillors and appointees, was utterly shambolic.

There would have to be one hell of a change in approach and some sort of guarantee that MPs and town hall councillors were kept well at arm's length from the the duties of professional managers and staff in ensuring that the services actually worked.

That's why I added "responsible stewardship" in there...

That would include keeping the pollies (and their financial and corporate backers..) at arms lemgth, and putting properly qualified, experienced and equipped professional managers in charge..

Both "political" appointees and corporate lobbyists have to be kept well away from both policy-making and management issues.

WhoseYourWolfie wrote:

Fred Moletrousers wrote:

While I agree with you in principle, you wouldn't be saying that had you been around here in the 60s and 70s when government and delegated local and regional control of essential services, largely by unqualified councillors and appointees, was utterly shambolic.

There would have to be one hell of a change in approach and some sort of guarantee that MPs and town hall councillors were kept well at arm's length from the the duties of professional managers and staff in ensuring that the services actually worked.

That's why I added "responsible stewardship" in there...

That would include keeping the pollies (and their financial and corporate backers..) at arms lemgth, and putting properly qualified, experienced and equipped professional managers in charge..

Both "political" appointees and corporate lobbyists have to be kept well away from both policy-making and management issues.

Have you ever known politicians and their eminence grise special advisers of any party not to consider it their divine right to interfere and meddle in such things?

And obviously unlike you, Wolfie, I am pretty sanguine about the participation and involvement of private enterprise in essential services - so long as it is to provide expertise and investment resources that the state does not necessarily have the capacity to provide.

The trick is in ensuring that private enterprise is kept in its place as the servant and not the master...a capability that has always been woefully lacking in both Tory and Labour administrations.

Fred M. wrote:Have you ever known politicians and their eminence grise special advisers of any party not to consider it their divine right to interfere and meddle in such things?

Well, in this country the Democrats have no reason to sell out to financial interests. Democrats represent the public interests. Only Republicans represent special interests.

The problem for Republicans is, there aren't very many wealthy, special interests. Representing a smaller group, means reaping a smaller number of votes.

In order to compensate, Republicans need to lie...hide the imbalance. A classic example is the recent tax cut, where corporate interests reaped the most, if not all the benefit. A pence or two was granted to the unwashed middle and lower class, so that Republicans could argue a false equivalency. But a pence vs. $millions...I don't think so.

So, yes, as long as one party caters to special interests, there is a need to meddle. But it only exists on the right.

WhoseYourWolfie wrote:

I reckon it's all them wombles and squirrels wot done it...

Gnawing away on all those poles and wires..

Don't forget the moles. I refer to the furry variety of course. 

maybe it was a cockwomble

Original Quill wrote:

Fred M. wrote:Have you ever known politicians and their eminence grise special advisers of any party not to consider it their divine right to interfere and meddle in such things?

Well, in this country the Democrats have no reason to sell out to financial interests.  Democrats represent the public interests.  Only Republicans represent special interests.

The problem for Republicans is, there aren't very many wealthy, special interests.  Representing a smaller group, means reaping a smaller number of votes.

In order to compensate, Republicans need to lie...hide the imbalance.  A classic example is the recent tax cut, where corporate interests reaped the most, if not all the benefit.  A pence or two was granted to the unwashed middle and lower class, so that Republicans could argue a false equivalency.  But a pence vs. $millions...I don't think so.

So, yes, as long as one party caters to special interests, there is a need to meddle.  But it only exists on the right.

I don't presume to argue with you, but I don't think there are many Republicans on the board  UK Power Network and National Grid......

Fred Moletrousers wrote:

Original Quill wrote:

Well, in this country the Democrats have no reason to sell out to financial interests.  Democrats represent the public interests.  Only Republicans represent special interests.

The problem for Republicans is, there aren't very many wealthy, special interests.  Representing a smaller group, means reaping a smaller number of votes.

In order to compensate, Republicans need to lie...hide the imbalance.  A classic example is the recent tax cut, where corporate interests reaped the most, if not all the benefit.  A pence or two was granted to the unwashed middle and lower class, so that Republicans could argue a false equivalency.  But a pence vs. $millions...I don't think so.

So, yes, as long as one party caters to special interests, there is a need to meddle.  But it only exists on the right.

I don't presume to argue with you, but I don't think there are many Republicans on the board  UK Power Network and National Grid......

You must pay attention.  It's Russians...hacking into your grid.  How do you think the next war is going to go down?  Knives and spears?

Russians (IRA) are already working on expanding their control of America's voting machines.  They've already got the grids wired.  But like the No. Koreans, they need to send up some tests now and then.

Original Quill wrote:

Victor wrote:...the power was out for 50 mins only and was due to the loss of two generator units...

That's exactly the cover I would use if I were Russian.

You’re starting to sound like an alternative truth-seeker. Good for you.

eddie wrote:

Original Quill wrote:

That's exactly the cover I would use if I were Russian.

You’re starting to sound like an alternative truth-seeker. Good for you.

Thx eds. There's a fine line between 'alternative' thought and original thought. But the distinction is there.

I wonder about slow thinkers. Here we have just seen and learned the difference between conventional war, and asymmetrical war, and now we are confronted with cyber war.

Gad, it takes the average person a long time to catch up. Most people just whistle and saunter along, until they realize they live on the 78th floor, and the elevator is out because a cyber war just started. And here they were thinking, 'no big deal'.

Original Quill wrote:

eddie wrote:

Original Quill wrote:

That's exactly the cover I would use if I were Russian.

You’re starting to sound like an alternative truth-seeker. Good for you.

Thx eds.  There's a fine line between 'alternative' thought and original thought.  But the distinction is there.

I wonder about slow thinkers. Here we have just seen and learned the difference between conventional war, and asymmetrical war, and now we are confronted with cyber war.

Gad, it takes the average person a long time to catch up.  Most people just whistle and saunter along, until they realize they live on the 78th floor, and the elevator is out because a cyber war just started.  And here they were thinking, 'no big deal'.

Hahahahahaha you make a good point.