The research also found that 38 percent of forgetful people from the North West turn to their mobile phones to retain important numbers.
To help reduce the amount of things people need to remember Electricity North West, the region’s network power operator, has partnered with the Energy Networks Association and electricity network operators across Great Britain to launch the memorable, free-to-call number 105 to help people get information and advice in a power cut.
Launched to create one easy-to-remember number 105 puts people straight through to their local network power operator and helps avoid the need to remember power companies’ longer numbers reducing confusion or people potentially contacting the wrong organisation.
To help people boost their memory, eight-time world memory champion, Dominic O’Brien said: “Everyone has a different way of remembering information, however, there are certain things you can do to help you retain numbers.
“One method that is particularly useful is to think of the shape of a number and create a story involving these shapes. For example, to remember 105, think of the number Ten as a powerful number, Ten out of Ten or Top Ten. Cut the ten in half (Power Cut) to leave 5. Half of Ten is Five: 10 5.”
Stephanie Trubshaw, head of customer experience at Electricity North West added:
“We invest millions in upgrading and maintaining the power network to prevent any unexpected outages and thankfully for many, power cuts are very rare. When customers do experience power cuts it is important our customers can get in touch with us and the free, national power cut number has helped to make this even simpler.
“Customers mistakenly contact the people they pay their bills to when they have a power cut, and the easy to remember 105 number helps customers to contact us directly 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
People can call 105 from all landlines and most mobile phones, no matter who they choose to buy their electricity from. For those who prefer to go online for support, they can visit www.powercut105.com.
The easy-to-use website provides direct links and details of how to contact network operators online and via social media to get information and updates about a power cut. It also provides details about 105 and the electricity network operators funding this important national three-digit service which is the first of its type in the UK’s energy industry.
