Electricity North West is encouraging the region’s residents and businesses to ‘be winter ready’ and make a plan to help them be prepared in case of a power cut this winter.

While the region has one of the most reliable networks in the UK, National Grid the national Electricity System Operator has stated that emergency power cuts might be needed this winter if demand for power outstrips supply.

While this is unlikely, the region’s power network operator, Electricity North West, has begun contacting more than 500,000 people on its Extra Care Register providing support and advice to help them prepare.

This includes sending emails and text messages supported by hundreds of people from across the business making proactive calls to customers.

Stephanie Trubshaw, Electricity North West’s customer director, said: “While National Grid says that emergency power cuts are unlikely, we still want our customers to know that we are here to provide help and support and help people plan and prepare for any type of power cut.

“This engagement programme we’re carrying out is part of our wider ‘Be Winter Ready’ campaign, encouraging people to take the sensible step of making a winter plan whilst our website also has plenty of additional support for customers in regards to the cost of living crisis.”

Although rare, power cuts do still happen for a variety of reasons including trees, birds or debris damaging overhead lines, vandalism or other third-party damage and extreme weather.

The energy industry has well-established procedures in place if there is ever a national energy shortage.

These could include ‘power sharing’ rotas with three-hour power cuts which will be used as a last resort if National Grid ESO has exhausted all other measures.

Local network operators, like Electricity North West would then be instructed to disconnect power supplies in blocks, with customers given up to two days’ notice via a rota published by National Grid.

Stephanie Trubshaw added: “Each the year the industry carries out winter preparations which includes preparing for possible winter emergency power cuts.

“And likewise, each year, we encourage all of our customers to be winter ready as power cuts can happen at any time of the day for a variety of reasons.

“A lot of the advice we are sharing, including providing customers with their ‘block’ number, is in the full hope it will never be needed.

“However, I do urge everybody to make winter preparations as there are several actions people can take to ensure people will be better equipped, should power go off at any point.”

For more information about Electricity North West’s winter campaign, please visit www.enwl.co.uk/BeWinterReady. You can find out your property’s block letter at www.powercut105.com/findoperator.

Top prepare tips:

• Keep torches and batteries handy and keep your mobile phone charged in case there's an unexpected power cut
• Keep an eye on weather forecasts and take note of local weather warnings which can cause disruption to power supplies
• Write down or save Electricity North West’s website for updates at enwl.co.uk/powercuts, and the power cut number, 105
• Check if your landline will still work in a power cut and write down other key phone numbers in case your mobile does run out of charge
• If anyone in your household needs additional support, join our free extra care register
• If you use medical equipment, make sure it has a battery backup or manual function. If in doubt, speak to your healthcare professional or equipment manufacturer