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A senior figure at one of the country’s distribution network operators (DNO) has called for a clear message on how its workers will be treated if the coronavirus spread becomes a pandemic in the UK.
Ofgem has yet to confirm which licence conditions will be relaxed in such a situation and there has been no discussion about social distancing rules for lifeline service providers.
The director, who did not wish to be named, told Utility Week: “We are prepared for a stage where the country is in lockdown. But we need Ofgem to be very clear about what they expect from us in this very unusual situation.
“For instance, if we get to a fullblown pandemic status, we would want to focus on sending workers out only to jobs where they are keeping the lights on. But we need to know that we’re not going to end up in some inquiry because we didn’t do such and such that the licence stipulates.
“We also need to know that our staff will be allowed to do their job and that might mean that some of the advice, for instance around social distancing, may not apply to them.”
In response an Ofgem spokesman said: “We are aware that the current situation will present a number of challenges. As usual, we expect industry to alert us to any issues that arise and keep us informed of their plans to deal with these issues. We will consider any such circumstance in its context, including any official advice and logistical challenges outside licensees’ control.”
The source said they had been in contact with DNOs across the country and were confident that existing disaster plans were being effectively updated to cope with any eventuality.
They said: “This is what we do – it’s what we’ve prepared for. We’re confident that in all sorts of different scenarios, we can keep the lights on.
“The fact that we have all been stockpiling for a no-deal Brexit has helped us here. We have about three months of stock, whereas normally we probably only would have had one month.”
They said call centre workers were set up to work remotely if needed and that precautions were being taken to ensure senior operations and business continuity teams were able to keep running.
Meanwhile, Utility Week understands that Ofgem has written to energy retailers warning them they must have plans in place to continue essential services during the coronavirus pandemic.
An industry source said a letter circulated by the regulator made clear suppliers should ensure their customer obligations, especially towards the vulnerable, were met and that they may need to prevent all but essential home visits for meter replacement services.
“Ofgem has indicated it will take a dim view of suppliers who do not plan properly”, the source added.
According to the source another meeting is due this week between the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and retailers to discuss how the smart meter rollout might be affected in the current circumstances.
An Ofgem spokesperson said: “We expect industry to take this seriously and want to ensure they have robust plans in place. This means taking proactive steps to maintain business continuity, including if a licensee has a reduced workforce.
“Currently, all regulatory requirements remain in place for all licensees. We are closely monitoring the situation and we will update industry if circumstances change. We are aware of a range of proactive measures being taken by industry to manage risks and protect customers.”
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