Coping with coronavirus: How networks are reacting

A number of electricity and gas network operators have issued updates on the measures they have taken to prepare for and prevent the further spread of the coronavirus in the UK.

They include cancelling non-essential maintenance work to minimise disruption to the millions of people around the country now working from home.

Here’s a round-up of their responses over the last week:

Electricity Networks

UK Power Networks announced it is “postponing lower priority work on electricity cables and substations”, whilst assuring customers that “all essential work will continue, including fixing power cuts on the rare occasions they happen”. It has “split key teams across different location” and equipped “hundreds of calls agents” to answer queries whilst working at home.

The firm said it was working with trade associations and other network operators to share best practice and with the supply chain to ensure it can maintain access to the necessary supplies and equipment.

It informed customers that they would be asked if they were self-isolating if engineers were required to enter their home to restore power supplies, and that the engineers would wear protective equipment if they answered yes. It said engineers had also been instructed to stay in different rooms to people who are infected or self-isolating and avoid touching surfaces.

Electricity North West said it is assessing its work on a “case-by-case basis” to determine which is essential. The company said it would try to keep planned interruptions to a maximum of five hours and that a generator would be provided if this was not possible.

“We maintain 57,000 kilometres of overhead lines and underground cables, and not all of our maintenance work can be stopped or delayed as it is essential to us operating a safe and reliable power network,” said customer director Steph Trubshaw.

“That means that some of our planned power cuts will still be going ahead, so that we can reduce the risk or unplanned power cuts in the future. Where possible we will reduce the impact on our customers by shortening the time your power is turned off.”

In a post on the company’s website, Western Power Distribution operations director Graham Halladay wrote: “Our contact centres and control rooms are manned and our field engineers are responding to power cuts and continuing to carry out essential work on network.

“That doesn’t mean things don’t look a little different – where possible non-operational staff are working from home and we’re making arrangements for more to do so where possible.

“There are new and strict protocols for field staff who have to enter customers’ homes where people are self-isolating. We’re only allowing essential visitors into our offices, we’ve stocked up on hygiene supplies and we’ve minimised social contact between staff.”

SP Energy Networks said it had segregated its frontline operational and control centre teams, including by “changing shift patterns and splitting the physical location they work in to ensure we can maintain operations in the event of a localised outbreak.” It said it was also training or recruiting additional staff, both internally and through its contractors.

It has also deep cleaned its buildings, restricted movement within them and asked anyone who can to work from home.

“We recognise that, following nationwide social distancing measures, many more people will now be at home, including the elderly and those following guidance,” the company stated. “So now, more than ever, we must ensure you continue to receive the most resilient supply we can provide.

“It is also still the season where stormy weather is most likely to hit, so we are reviewing and reprioritising our essential planned work to maintain and strengthen the resilience of the network we all rely on to take us through this season and beyond.

“We’re working hard to ensure we identify any impacts to customers in advance and put mitigations in place to help minimise any disruption to supply which may be experienced.

“We are also looking at additional measures, including timing and duration, to reduce customer impact for planned interruptions that are for emergency, essential connections or network resilience.”

National Grid executive director Nicola Shaw said analysis by the electricity system operator (ESO) indicated that electricity demand across the UK is expected to fall, “largely owing to a decrease in energy use from industrial consumers, which is likely to be greater than the increase in domestic demand as people stay at home.”

Shaw said its control centres have “fully operational back-up locations and our engineers are trained across multiple roles,” adding: “These measures have been strengthened further with a range of additional measures to segregate our critical employees.”

She continued: “Visitor access to our electricity and gas control rooms has been ceased. We have comprehensive and well-developed procedures in place to manage the effects of a pandemic and do not anticipate any issues in continuing to reliably supply gas and electricity.”

Gas networks

Before making a visit, Cadent said it would ask customers if there was anyone in the property with a confirmed case of coronavirus or in self-isolation due to medical advice or following contact with a carrier.

If they answered yes, customers would be asked to open the windows in the room in which the engineer will be working and then stay in a separate room for the duration of their visit. Engineers would wear protective equipment, including masks and gloves. They would afterwards dispose of the gloves and thoroughly wash their hands before moving onto the next property.

The gas distribution network assured customers it will continue to respond to all reports of gas and carbon monoxide leaks. It said none of its employees have yet tested positive for the virus.

SGN outlined similar measures but said its customers would also be asked if they are over 70, pregnant or living with a long-term health conditions. It said if engineers were required to enter the same room as customers in a house answering yes to any of these questions, they would try to stay at least two metres apart.

The company said its control room and emergency response teams will be working from multiple locations. Those employees that are able to are working from home and all non-essential travel, meetings and events have been cancelled.

The Heating and Hot Water Council advised engineers to take all of the same precautions outlined by SGN and Cadent as well as wipe down any tools or instruments used during visits, bag and properly dispose of contaminated protective equipment and leave if they feel their safety is at risk.