Blackout and selective power cut plan

• Will a generator enable me to tend to my power needs in case of a power outage?

  Quite a few people are considering getting in a current generator to make sure they have electrical power when the mains power is switched off. But these types of generators are quite expensive. Plus you cannot just use them as part of your home power network.

• Why does the electricity grid have to stay in balance?

  To avoid a widespread power failure, there must be a balance between the electricity that 'enters' the grid (produced and imported) and the electricity that is consumed at all times.

• What is a blackout? What is a selective power cut?

  If the upcoming winter proves to be harsh, the electricity supply may be interrupted in rural areas for a certain length of time. The reason for doing so is to prevent a wide-scale imbalance of the power grid, which could produce a blackout.

• What is the flexibility market and who can join?

  In exchange for financial compensation, major electricity consumers or owners of power generation units can adapt their use of the electricity grid to contribute to a better balance. In the future, flexibility markets may be opened up to private consumers too.

• How can i prepare myself to a power cut in case of load shedding or black-out?

  You will be given 24 hours' notice of any power cut... Use this time to prepare, following the recommendations of Federal Crisis Centre.

• How do I drive down my electricity consumption to avoid power shortages?

  Belgium uses up most electrical power between 5 pm and 8 pm on weekdays: offices and shops are still open for business, trains, trams and the underground system are operating at peak performance and people are getting dinner on at home. To avoid selective power cuts, there is only one thing for it: to drive down overall power consumption during these times.