Power Cuts

Ten days on from the 'great storm', we are still plagued by power cuts. According to our records, the tally so far is -

Thurs 8th 10.45am - Sat 10th 8.30pm

Sun 11th 1.00am - 12.00 midday

Tue 13th 2.45pm - 7.45pm

Wed 14th 6.20am - 6.40am

Thurs 15th 1.00pm - 5.15pm

Sat 17th six cuts between 5.15am and 10.00am

....making as total of almost 80 hours.

These are the Kilchoan times. Achnaha, Sanna, Portuairk, Aschosnich and the lighthouse have been off today from about 5.30am. There are a number of problems down their line, including another burnt-out pole, which the engineers are working to sort out.

The local electricity board, Scottish Hydro, are asking people to report power poles which are flashing a red light, and indication that there is a problem. It also helps them if people report a cut as soon as it happens. Their emergency number is 0800 300 999.

No-one is blaming the engineers for our problems - they have, as always, done a super job, for which we are very grateful. But, as a group of small communities, we are in the relatively unusual position of being entirely dependent on the single line which comes down the peninsula. If it is cut, there is no other way of diverting power to us. In view of this, Scottish Hydro needs to ensure that the system is as robust as possible, and last Thursday's storm suggests it isn't.

Scottish Hydro also needs to look at its lines of communication to our villages. Warnings were issued for the cut on Thursday 15th, which was to repair the first burnt-out pole. The Diary heard the news from a builder from the Borders who'd been told by someone who lives in Cambridge. Surely phone calls to the Ferry Stores, the Estate, and the two hotels, who can pass the word on, would do the job rather better.