UK Power Networks said it had mobilised more than 100 engineering teams, damage assessment teams and call centre staff ahead of two storms expected to hit its licence area this week. The network operator, which runs the electricity distribution network across London, the South East and the East of England, issued the statement on 1 February 20221.
The company said winds of up to 90mph were forecast from Storm Eunice on Friday, following Storm Dudley tonight, and that two storms in quick succession could increase the chances of trees and branches damaging overhead power lines1. It said it invests £19 million in tree cutting every year, and that remote control technology would allow engineers to restore some supplies without visiting the site of the damage. Teams would climb poles to repair overhead lines once winds subsided to a safe level1.
Ian Cameron, head of customer services and innovation, said:
"We understand how difficult it is to be without electricity especially during cold weather, and will be working to restore supplies quickly if there are power cuts. Keeping people safe and fixing power cuts is our priority, so if you see any damaged power lines our advice is to stay away, keep everyone clear and call us on 105."
The company said it was in contact with local resilience partners and would keep customers updated through its website and the @ukpowernetworks Twitter account1. It also pointed to its free Priority Services Register for people living in vulnerable circumstances, and to its live power cut map1. Households unsure which network covers their area can check who their distribution network operator is; UK Power Networks' own patch is set out in its area, connections and flexibility page, and its split of duties with the transmission operator is covered in UK Power Networks vs National Grid.
The company's published advice for a power cut included keeping the freephone number 105 handy, charging mobile phones and power banks before the weather arrived, using a corded phone because cordless landlines do not work in a power cut, checking torches and spare batteries, keeping freezer doors closed because freezers remain cold for several hours without power, dressing in warm clothes, and looking out for vulnerable neighbours1. It repeated that anyone seeing a damaged power line should stay away, keep everyone clear and call 1051.
Why it matters for households
A storm-related outage is the clearest case of a household losing energy independence through no fault of its own: the supply is intact at the substation but the overhead line between it and the home is down. UK Power Networks' statement describes a response model built on restoring supplies rather than preventing the initial loss, with tree cutting, remote switching and pole-climbing repairs once winds allow1. For a home, the practical exposure is the length of the interruption and whether anything in the house depends on mains power to stay safe or warm. The company's own list singles out cordless landlines, freezer contents and cold-weather warmth as the points where an outage bites1. Households on the Priority Services Register are offered free extra help, which the company says is aimed at people living in vulnerable circumstances1. Comparable arrangements in other parts of the country are described in the SSEN networks, storms and priority services page and the NIE Networks page; the wider picture sits in the national supply hub.
What happens next
Storm Dudley was expected tonight and Storm Eunice on Friday, with winds up to 90mph forecast1. UK Power Networks said teams would repair overhead lines as soon as winds subsided to a safe level, and that it would post updates on its website and Twitter feed1. No restoration times, outage numbers or compensation arrangements had been reported at the time of the statement.
Sources1 cited
- Power network prepares for Storms Dudley and Eunice | UK Power Networks, ukpowernetworks.co.uk