NORTHERN POWERGRID REASSURES CUSTOMERS IT'S HERE FOR THEM OVER THE FESTIVE PERIOD

Northern Powergrid, the company that powers everyday life for 8 million people by delivering electricity to 3.9 million homes and businesses across the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire, is reassuring customers that its teams remain ready to support them over the festive period if they need support or there is any severe weather that could cause damage or disruption to its network. 

As part of a proactive approach to managing its network, teams at Northern Powergrid track weather forecasts through a number of channels including dedicated Met Office reports.  This intelligence is used on a daily basis to inform decision making ensuring the company has resources appropriately placed to be able to effectively respond to and manage the region’s power network.

The electricity network operator is specifically tracking forecasts for increased wind speeds and some heavy rain heading across the region over the coming days.

Rod Gardner, Northern Powergrid’s head of operational performance improvement and major incident manager, said: "We always monitor the weather closely and ensure we have cover and arrangements in place at all times – it is always important but particularly so heading into the festive period and following the challenging year that we have all faced. 

“As part of our ‘always prepared’ approach we have teams in place continuously monitoring our operations and any impacts, ready to respond to restore power by carrying out repairs if there is damage to the electricity network.

“Our network control engineers remain ready to restore power supplies to customers by diverting electricity through alternative routes on our network wherever possible and our dispatch teams will mobilise our frontline teams to carry out any necessary local repair work using our COVID-19 Secure practices and procedures.”

In addition, Northern Powergrid ensures that over the festive period it is ready to call on its specialist access equipment and fleet of 4x4 vehicles to help with site access and arborists to help with any fallen trees that may damage its network or need to be removed to enable any repairs.  It’s 24/7 contact centre remains available throughout the festive period with advisors ready to provide information, advice and support to customers who call 105, the free, three digit power cut number.

Northern Powergrid’s website, which has a power cup map and reporting tool, and  its 24/7 social media feeds on Facebook and Twitter (@NorthPowergrid) will continue to provide updates for customers.  If customers spot any damaged overhead power lines or other equipment they should not to approach the area and report it immediately by calling 105.

Customers are also being reminding that they can take action to ensure that they know what to do if they ever have a power cut by:

• bookmarking Northern Powergrid’s online power cut map and reporting service on their mobile devices – www.northernpowergrid.com/power-cuts
• having a charged mobile phone with important numbers, including 105, easily accessible
• turning off electrical appliances at the socket (this is particularly important for heating or cooking appliances as your power could be restored at any time and potentially cause a safety hazard)
• keeping one light switched on so you know when power is restored
• keeping a battery or wind-up torch handy – as they’re much safer than candles
• checking on your elderly or sick neighbours and relatives and consider joining Northern Powergrid’s free Priority Services Membership if you might be more vulnerable in a power cut – www.northernpowergrid.com/care
• ensuring you have warm clothing and blankets handy and some food and drink in your home that does not require electricity to heat or prepare it, and
• only call 999 in an emergency.