NORTHERN POWERGRID ENCOURAGES CUSTOMERS TO PREPARE, CARE AND SHARE

Northern Powergrid is encouraging people to be prepared with a personal power cut plan this winter.  

Northern Powergrid is proud to play an essential role in powering everyday life for the customers, homes, businesses and economies it serves. But, while local electricity networks are 99% reliable, power cuts can occasionally happen due to a range of reasons, including national energy shortages.

It has been widely publicised that the Ukrainian conflict does increase the possibility of energy shortages. Even though it does increase the likelihood, the people who run the national systems continue to confirm that it is very unlikely that there will be energy shortages across the UK this winter.

The energy industry has well-established procedures in place if there is ever a national energy shortage. These include arrangements in which network operators such as Northern Powergrid would be instructed to disconnect power supplies by National Grid ESO in order to avoid a more serious and widespread blackout. This is achieved by running a series of planned emergency power cuts and ‘power sharing’ rotas, as a last resort once National Grid ESO has exhausted all other measures. 

Information on Emergency Power Cuts can be found at northernpowergrid.com/emergencypowercuts .

Even though the possibility of there being problems is remote, as a precaution, Northern Powergrid is contacting its customers to share with them information and advice that will help them prepare. In particular, it is urging those who are medically dependent on electricity to make a personal plan through their healthcare or medical equipment provider so that they have back-up provisions in place if ever impacted by a power cut.

Here are some important precautions customers can take:

Prepare:  

• Find your block letter now and note it down in a safe place if you ever need it (it’s an alphabetical letter that indicates where you are connected to the electricity network). It can be found at the top of your energy bill or by visiting powercut105.com/findoperator.
• Ensure you have a back-up plan in place for any electrically powered medically equipment. If you, or someone you know does not have a plan, speak to your local healthcare provider (GP/ NHS) for clinical advice – or the equipment provider/ manufacturer. Network operators, like Northern Powergrid, cannot do this for customers and are unable to provide individual generators in an Emergency Power Cut situation.
• Make sure you know how long any medical equipment’s back-up supply will work. (Remember an Emergency Power Cut can last at least three hours each time, once or twice per day).
• Test your back-up plan.
• Regardless of the cause of a power cut, visit Northern Powergrid’s be prepared page to see important advice about what to do before, during and after a power cut - northernpowergrid.com/be-prepared.
• Visit northernpowergrid.com/emergencypowercuts to see further information including some additional frequently asked questions (FAQs) to support you in making plans.
• Keep a mobile phone fully charged so you can use it to go online for updates or make calls if you have a power cut. Remember that your gas boiler, heat pump, broadband and home phone will not work without electricity.
• Keep a torch handy in case you are without power during the night.  
• Have accessible warm clothes, blankets and food which doesn’t need heating.  

Care: 

• Check on neighbours, family, and friends to make sure they have a plan if they have a power cut. 
• Check whether you or someone you know can get extra help during bad weather through the Priority Services Membership. It’s a free service to help people who have additional needs. You can sign up online to Northern Powergrid’s Priority Service Membership.

 Share:  

• Share this information so friends and family can plan too.