The Met Office issued a rare red weather warning for parts of south west England and the south of Wales from Friday 18 February, the Energy Networks Association said on 17 February 20221. The warning is an escalation from the earlier yellow and amber warnings, which remain in place for other parts of the UK1. The ENA, which represents the UK's energy network operators, said teams of staff were in place across the country ahead of the storm1.
A red warning is the most severe the Met Office can issue. According to the ENA, it means "it is very likely that there will be a risk to life, with substantial disruption to travel, energy supplies and possibly widespread damage to property and infrastructure"1. The forecaster states that people should avoid travelling where possible and follow the advice of the emergency services and local authorities1.
The ENA said all homes affected by power outages caused by Storm Dudley had by then been reconnected1. Ross Easton, spokesperson for the association, said:
"The energy networks are moving teams and equipment to strategic locations, ready to respond if needed. We are contacting customers in vulnerable situations to ensure they're aware of the warnings in place and informed about what to do."
Network operators said they were monitoring Storm Eunice and making preparations, including arranging extra staff, moving vehicles and equipment to strategic locations, contacting local resilience partners and directly contacting Priority Services Register customers in advance1. The ENA said operators cannot predict the precise location or severity of weather damage1. It said the companies that run the networks invest millions of pounds every year to keep energy flowing while facing increased demand and adverse weather1.
The association repeated safety advice for downed lines: stay well clear, call 105 free to report it, and dial 999 if there is an immediate risk to life1. In Northern Ireland the number is 03457 643 6431. It also noted that Ofcom advises a phone might not work during a power cut1.
| Warning level | Area and timing |
|---|---|
| Red | Parts of south west England and south Wales, from Friday1 |
| Yellow and amber | Remain in place for other parts of the UK1 |
Why it matters for households
A red warning covers disruption to energy supplies as well as travel and property, so homes in the affected areas of south west England and south Wales face a heightened chance of losing power1. For a household, a cut removes lighting, heating controls, refrigeration and, for many, the broadband and landline service that would otherwise carry updates; the ENA cites Ofcom's advice that a phone might not work during a power cut1. That combination is what makes a home's energy independence matter in a storm: the ability to keep a torch and a charged phone to hand, and to know how supply is restored, rests on the network rather than the property. The national supply hub sets out how the UK's networks are organised, and the Wales & West Utilities and SP Energy Networks pages cover operators active in the south west, south Wales and north Wales. For households in the affected parts of Wales, energy supply in Wales explains generation, networks and Welsh policy, while SSEN's page covers how that operator handles storms and priority services. In Northern Ireland, where the reporting number differs, NIE Networks and energy supply in Northern Ireland give the local picture.
Network operators work with suppliers to maintain a free Priority Services Register, used to identify vulnerable customers who may need additional support during a power cut1. The ENA said operators were contacting those customers in advance1.
What happens next
The red warning applies from Friday 18 February, with yellow and amber warnings remaining for other parts of the UK1. The ENA said network operators are monitoring Storm Eunice and are ready to respond if needed1. No further dated steps have been reported1.