We have two priorities. Keeping our employees safe, and keeping power flowing to the region. We know that our role is even more important while customers self-isolate, work from home and support family members.
We want to reassure you that we are continuing with our essential maintenance of the network as well as responding to power cuts, like we do 365 days a year. Our extensive and robust business continuity plans are helping us minimise the impact on customers.
We are also working closely with Government and Ofgem as well as Energy Networks Association to ensure a consistent industry-approach. Any significant updates will be shared here or on our social media channels.
If you do have a power cut please visit our live power cut information pages, social media channels or call us on 105. If you have received communication from the NHS advising you to take additional measures to protect yourself from coronavirus then you can consider signing up to our Priority Service Register which gives free additional support in the event of a power cut.
You can read more about the wider industry response at www.energynetworks.org/coronavirus.
Responding to power cuts and carrying out essential maintenance
At a time like this it’s vital that our engineers carry out maintenance and inspections on the power network, adding the resilience that we will all need over the coming weeks and months. We are a critical service and the work we do is fundamental to the country’s effort to managing this pandemic well. This includes inspecting cables, installing new equipment, and cutting back trees near to lines that can cause power cuts.
For our engineers carrying out this critical role, there are certain situations where power must be removed from properties to allow our teams to work safely. All this work reduces the risk of unplanned power cuts in future.
We are reviewing our planned programme of essential work to keep the power flowing in the longer term and are assessing all work on a case-by-case basis. If you have been notified of a planned power cut and you are concerned about the impact, please let us know by using our dedicated webform. The information you provide will help us to react accordingly.
Due to the current Covid-19 restrictions in place, planned interruptions will last no longer than 6.5 hours. Such restrictions may mean the work could take us a little longer than usual, as our engineers adhere to social distancing measures to both themselves and you safe during this time. If we are unable to complete the work during that time, we will notify you as soon as possible.
Not all work can be postponed. Doing so could cause longer and more disruptive power cuts in the weeks and months ahead. If you have any concerns, please get in touch with us using the contact form.
If you see our teams out working on the network, then they're doing essential work to keep power flowing. They're designated key workers by Government and we're proud of all their efforts. Please respect the work that they are doing to keep power flowing for all of us at this difficult time.
