ENW restores power to 23,000 properties after Storm Debi

Electricity North West engineers have restored power to more than 23,000 properties across the region in the wake of Storm Debi.

Winds surpassing 70mph saw fallen trees and windborne debris cause damage to the power network on Monday (13 November), with more than 50 separate incidents recorded.

In an update on Tuesday, the distribution network operator (DNO) has hailed automation on its network as having played a “crucial role” during the storm as approximately 50% of customers had power restored in under three minutes.

Engineers are continuing working to restore power to the final few properties affected.

Mark Mercer, Electricity North West’s incident manager, said: “We made tremendous progress yesterday and through the night restoring power to 99% of properties which have been interrupted by Storm Debi.

“Teams have encountered some challenging conditions, with extreme weather and multiple hazards including trees on overhead lines. In many cases our investment in automation has allowed remote restoration of supplies whilst our skilled tree cutters and engineers attended site to make it safe.

“This morning, we’ve deployed teams who are already working on the remaining few faults, and we expect power to be restored to those affected this afternoon.”

Storm Debi is the fourth storm named as part of the 2023/2024 storm-naming initiative involving the Met Office, Met Éireann and KNMI, the Dutch national met service.

It comes just weeks after more than 100,000 properties across the south of England were impacted by Storm Ciaran.

Network operators reconnected more than 135,000 properties in total, with figures released by the Energy Networks Association revealing that around 147,000 properties experienced some form of power cut during the storm which recorded winds of up to 104mph.

Meanwhile CCW said Thames Water should have been better prepared for disruption caused by Storm Ciaran, after thousands of homes were left without water.