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Power cuts. - Dawn Hoskins (23rd Nov 2007 - 11:24:38) Power cuts. Is it just Passfield that has been blighted by all the recent power cuts? We have had 4 (FOUR!) power failures lasting hours at a time within about 3 weeks. Does anyone know what is going on – what is causing this abysmal service – if anything is being done about it? Dawn

Re: Power cuts. - liz (23rd Nov 2007 - 11:42:10) Parts of Liphook have had a couple of power cuts recently- but don't know why. Weather?

Re: Power cuts. - nikki (23rd Nov 2007 - 14:04:54) the powercuts in passfield have lasted from 3 hours to all night. i believe it is a transformer (no not robots in disguise)...that is faulty. it isnt on at all, it always happens at night and its always the same faulty part. as this happens on a weekly basis (pretty much)..i do hope something is done about it before christmas, it would be just our luck for yet another power failure to occur on christmas day. Not happy

Re: Power cuts. - Dawn (23rd Nov 2007 - 15:23:07) Not always at night. Last Sunday lunchtime I was cooking a Birthday celebration meal for 25 people when it went off. Had to make do with the camping gaz stove - it was terrible. I imagine other sunday roasts were also ruined. Last night it also went off before I got home from work so I had no dinner (bowl of cornflakes). I hate having candles alight. What with cats jumping up to the window cills and th boys running about - I fear the house being burnt to ash. We are also still at the point with the children that we ned a light on in the bathroom at nightime - but I can't leave a burning candle in there. Further, when it does switch itself back on, all the stuff comes on that you didn't know was on = wakes you up. I am thinking about asking for a bill reduction!!

Re: Power cuts. - nikki (23rd Nov 2007 - 15:50:00) I am now told we should be expecting more of these powercuts!! Did anyone notice the power-up surge last night?? not good for computers/modems or anything else electrical! If they're not able to fix the problem NOW then they should at the very least be supplying back-up generators..like they do for the Business Park during scheduled power interruptions. Sue @ Liphook Hardware- you'll need to order in a ship load of candles

Re: Power cuts. - liz (23rd Nov 2007 - 16:52:42) Best to have power surge protectors on computer equipment anyway - and particularly in this area. - More scope for local businesses! - And you can also buy battery powered lanterns for the kids. Trying to get money back from the electricity company however could be trickier....(!)

Re: Power cuts. - Janet A (23rd Nov 2007 - 20:21:37) Passfield has always been very prone to power cuts, at least it has ever since I've lived here (21 years now). A few years back we were getting significant power cuts every time there was more than just a breath of wind! Eventually the electricity people did a major programme of tree-felling and pruning all along the route of the above-ground cables and for a few years we had some respite but recently it's started to get worse. My understanding of the current situation (no pun intended!), as told by the person on the Southern Electric helpline, is this: The four recent power cuts, on 5th, 10th, 18th and 22nd November are due to an unknown fault somewhere on the cable. The cable has a minute crack in it somewhere, which gradually heats up and expands and eventually trips the cicuit. By the time the engineer arrives, the cracked wire has re-joined (because of the heat it generated) and the fault cannot be detected. This is a repeating pattern. To avoid the residents of Passfield having to put up with 2 power cuts a week lasting several hours, Southern Electric has now put a device on the circuit, which will limit the duration of the power cuts. Basically, it just switches the power back on every time it trips out, so we don't have to wait hours for the engineer to get out here and do it. We'll still get the power cuts, but they'll only last a few seconds. The problem is likely to get worse until it finally 'shows itself' and can be properly repaired. Let's hope the fault reveals itself sooner rather than later. Janet

Re: Power cuts. - nikki (23rd Nov 2007 - 20:40:46) Thanks Janet for the info. A few of us have been told different stories by the elec company. Last night's powercut started at 7.15pm and went back on about 10 pm, It took them 2.5 hours to get to the site!.(at the end of lynchborough road).... If it's a faulty cable then they need to switch us all off during the day and replace it.

Re: Power cuts. - Freddie Dawkins (23rd Nov 2007 - 23:40:09) Hello all - We've had threads on this before over the last few years. Simon Coyte gave a very good explanation some time ago. The area has been prone to this for a loooong time. Basically, SSE need to upgrade the whole area. We were promised a more direct supply, as one of the supply lines was going to be switched from Bordon, as the Army scaled down and had less requirement. However, as far as I know this hasn't happened. When I spoke to the planning manager for SSE about 2-3 years ago, he told me he had no information about the development of the area and the extra housing etc etc. He promised to investigate and get back to me, after I pulled a lot of planning/development info together for him. I never heard a thing. Perhaps a new action group is called for? Freddie

Re: Power cuts. - Janet A (25th Nov 2007 - 10:52:33) Nicki, I'm sure they would repair the faulty cable - if they knew where the fault was. The problem is that they don't know. We were told that it's probably underground and it's impossible to find it until it gets so bad that the road above it shows signs of something being amiss below. Until then, we'll have to put up with multiple 'mini power cuts' lasting a few seconds. These are nothing new for Passfield. As the previous poster commented, it seems that the entire area needs a complete overhaul - and has done for at least the past 20 years!

Re: Power cuts. - nikki (9th Jan 2008 - 23:33:32) well the mini powercut tonight started at 6.55 pm and went on until 10.05 pm.

Re: Power cuts. - nikki (9th Jan 2008 - 23:47:11) Quoted from Southern Electrics website, text contained in their Gauranteed Standards pdf "Multiple interruptions – Your network operator will ensure that you do not experience power cuts lasting over 3 hours on 4 or more occasions between 1 April and 31 March due to a network problem. Penalty payment: £50. You will need to make a claim for your penalty payment no later than 3 months after 31 March and let them know the address and dates of the interruptions." View the document here: www.url.co.uk/w981p Worth keeping any eye on I think!

Re: Power cuts. - Art Woodhouse (10th Jan 2008 - 11:13:08) Hi Nikki, Yes another total shambles last night. What is really annoying is that it is always hitting the same 69 properties. This is because they just happen to be on that "cycle". Other houses are not effected. To compound my annoyance everytime I ring them they cannot find me on their database but can always find my neighbours who have their lights and power. When I suggest to them that if I am not on their database maybe I can forget about paying their bills they politely respond that it doesn't work that way!!! Hitting them in the pocket is the only way so I will happy look into your link. Do you have the dates and times for all the other outages please.

Re: Power cuts. - nikki (10th Jan 2008 - 11:48:47) so 69 houses @ £50 each =£3450 Then when eventually they decide to turn us all off for the day to fix it, thats £20 per property affected. Im looking into dates, maybe others would kindly post dates they know of on here, then hopefully we'll get all the info we need.

Re: Power cuts. - nikki (10th Jan 2008 - 14:10:29) And this would also apply to those who had a powercut last weekend in Longmoor area, 230 houses im led to believe.

Re: Power cuts. - nikki (10th Jan 2008 - 19:11:38) another 1 , only 1.5 hours this time. Was told my an engineer " replaced a fuse yesterday, but it blew tonight in a big way, theres an overload on it" We said "bet your fed up with coming out here" He said " no because its overtime" Nice.

Re: Power cuts. - Dawn Hoskins (10th Jan 2008 - 22:11:04) Southern Electric Service standards 2007-2008 Our service standards – we have two types of service standard: Guaranteed standards are standards of service backed by a guarantee – you receive a penalty payment if a promise is not kept by Southern Electric, your local electricity network operator or gas pipeline operator. (Please note: There are circumstances where the standards do not apply such as severe weather and difficulty in gaining access to properties). In general, the starting date for a standards matter will be the day you contact us, unless this is not a working day or is after 4pm on a working day. Overall standards do not relate to individual guarantees of service. They are predetermined levels of service that apply to all customers in general. Electricity charges If you have a query about whether your bill is correct, we will reply within 5 working days and if a refund is due to you, we will send it within 5 working days of our initial reply. Penalty payment: £20. Appointments – We will make and keep timed appointments, offering either morning or afternoon appointments or a fixed two-hour time band. Penalty payment: £20 (domestic customers only for gas). Electricity network operator guaranteed standards Your electricity network operator will vary according to where you live. Main fuse – If the main fuse between the incoming supply cable and your meter fails, your network operator will attend within 3 hours on a working day if you notify them between 7am and 7pm and within 4 hours if you contact them between 9am and 5pm on bank holidays or at weekends. Penalty payment: £20. Supply restoration: normal conditions – If your electricity supply fails because of a problem on the distribution system, your network operator will restore it within 18 hours of first becoming aware. Penalty payment: £50 (£100 for business customers), plus £25 for each succeeding 12 hours that you are off supply. You will need to make a claim for your penalty payment within 3 months of the incident. Supply restoration: severe weather conditions – If your electricity supply fails during severe weather because of a problem on the distribution system, your network operator will restore it within a prescribed period. The length of time that applies depends on the number of faults and how many customers are affected and varies from at least 24 hours without supply to more than 48 hours. Penalty payment: £25, plus £25 for every succeeding 12 hours that you are off supply with a maximum payment of £200. You will need to make a claim for your penalty payment within 3 months of the incident. Multiple interruptions – Your network operator will ensure that you do not experience power cuts lasting over 3 hours on 4 or more occasions between 1 April and 31 March due to a network problem. Penalty payment: £50. You will need to make a claim for your penalty payment no later than 3 months after 31 March and let them know the address and dates of the interruptions. Penalty payments If you are entitled to a penalty payment under one of the energy supply guaranteed standards, you will receive it automatically from your energy supplier within 10 working days. Where you do not need to claim the payment yourself, your electricity network operator has 10 working days to make payment to your supplier and your supplier then has 10 working days to make payment to you. In some situations your network operator receives penalty payments from another network operator. If this is the case the payment may take more than 10 working days to reach you without incurring another penalty payment. This also applies if supply restoration is delayed because of severe weather conditions. Your gas pipeline operator has 20 working days to make payment to you or your supplier. If you do not receive your penalty payment within the above timescales, you will be entitled to another penalty payment of £20. If you ask us whether a payment is due under the electricity supplier and network operator standards, we will reply within 5 working days. Penalty payment: £20. Please note: Penalty payments received due to a guaranteed standard failure do not prejudice any other payment you may be entitled to because of a failure to meet the standards. Energywatch If you have any concerns about any of the standards mentioned in this leaflet please contact us. If you have a dispute with us or your network or gas pipeline operator that you feel cannot be resolved, you can contact energywatch but please contact us first on 0800 117 116. energywatch is the trading name of the gas and electricity consumer council and is responsible for publishing the performance of companies under these standards. You can contact them on 0845 906 0708. www.energywatch.org.uk

Re: Power cuts. - nikki (16th Jan 2008 - 10:25:05) I have contacted Southern Electric. The advisor told me that in order to claim a penalty payment, the claimant would have needed to rung and reported each powercut as it happened as they log the calls. I told them that this is NOT mentioned in their terms and conditions. After she had back pedelled all the way to China, she eventually gave me the address of where to write to claim. We need to give our name/address and dates of the interruptions. Claims Administration, Scottish & Southern Electic, PO Box 7559, Perth PH21 1BJ Phone : 0845 7708090

Re: Power cuts. - nikki (16th Jan 2008 - 10:32:34) Freephone number for Southern Electric emergency distribution (alternative for 0845 7708090)...0800 300999. This is a very good site to access freephone numbers: http://www.saynoto0870.com/

Re: Power cuts. - Art Woodhouse (21st Jan 2008 - 12:12:20) I am reliably informed that the Elect Board have now changed the fusebox after the last outage. It sits up the pole at the end of Lynchborough Road. If this doesn't work they are talking about change the transformer but that is a big job so they are hoping for the best. If that doesn't work!!!

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