Since the 90s, Jamy Gourmaud has been an important television personality. Between 1993 and 2014, he fascinated young and old with his cult show This is not rocket science, co-hosted with Frédéric Courant and Sabine Quindou. And since 2014, he continues to popularize science in Jamy’s World. In 2021, for example, he made us discover the astonishing powers of the forest before showing us the right reflexes in the face of major floods or teaching us how sand is formed. Last year, the journalist even launched a new daily program called C Jamy. This Wednesday, January 4, 2023, he returns with a new issue of Jamy’s World devoted to the energy crisis. While a third of our nuclear power plants are shut down, are we really at risk of finding ourselves in the dark this winter? Why are some reactors out of service? Who or which sector will be affected first? How can we reduce our electricity bills at home or better insulate our homes? Jamy Gourmaud answers all these questions that the French ask themselves.
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Who decides on power cuts?
In this show called Lighting, heating, transport: is France at risk of a blackout?, Jamy Gourmaud tells us that electricity is produced in real time because it stores very poorly. RTE (Electricity transmission network) manages production 24 hours a day. This control tower prevents power cuts, but can also trigger them. In the control centers, the dispatchers ensure that we produce as much electricity as we consume. Otherwise, it’s a breakdown. RTE, which will notify you three days in advance, will thus be able to decide on power cuts, mainly between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. and around 7 p.m.
Will we be able to call with a cell phone in the event of a power cut?
Among the many questions answered by this new show: will you be able to call with a mobile phone in the event of a power cut? It sounds complicated. If your operator’s relay antenna is cut off, your mobile will be out of service. And for those that work, the network will be saturated.
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Some sites will always have power
In the event of a cut, several places will be disrupted such as schools, closed for half a day. You can still take the metro, tram and TGV as long as the rail network is not concerned. But stations and level crossings could pay the price for a cut: your train will be cancelled. On the other hand, certain priority sites will have power no matter what: health establishments, barracks, police stations, courts and prisons. People at high vital risk, such as those on artificial respirators, are a special case. In the event of a cut, Enedis will contact them personally three days before in order to direct them to a hospital. No line will of course be cut without making contact and guarantee.
What happens to us in the event of a cut?
If there were to be a blackout in your area this winter, first know that it would occur over a relatively short period of two hours. The freezer therefore does not have time to thaw. On the other hand, you will of course no longer have an Internet box, electric heating or a gate to get out of your car. Ditto for public lighting in your neighborhood.
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Ways to consume less
First factor: heating. Lowering the temperature in the rooms of our home by one degree saves 8% on the heating bill. And if it is recommended to lower the radiators to 19°C in the majority of rooms, it is even better to go down to 17°C in the bedrooms to improve the quality of sleep. Regarding water, a flow reducer attached to the tap can be a good solution to heat less water. And once the tap is closed, putting it back in the cold position avoids unnecessary power calls on the water heater.
