Networks look to restart work as lockdown eases

SGN has announced it is restarting some of the work it suspended as part of the coronavirus lockdown as restrictions begin to be eased in Scotland and England.

The gas distribution network said it has already resumed its gas mains replacement programme in England and is hoping to so the same in Scotland from the middle of June.

“We know you might feel uneasy at letting our engineers into your home at the moment, so we’re starting by upgrading sections of our network that don’t involve us going into your home or interrupting your supply,” the company said in update to customers.

“We’re starting this work now in England, but in keeping with Scottish government guidance, we’re unable to restart our programme in Scotland just yet. However, we hope to restart some projects there from mid-June.

“As the nation further recovers from the pandemic, we’ll start up projects where we need to access homes to upgrade individual gas supplies, as well as upgrading our gas main in the street. We hope this will happen in England from July and in Scotland from August, subject to government guidance.”

SGN said it is also planning to restart gas connections work, much of which takes place outside and on building sites, “over the next few weeks” in England and “later this month” in Scotland. The firm said it would contact existing customers to rearrange work for them as soon as it is safe to do so.

It gave assurances that activities would only be commenced following “extensive risk assessments” to ensure its employees can maintain social distancing: “Our colleagues will be keeping to social distancing guidelines on our sites and we’d ask you to keep your distance too. Typically, our work won’t involve entering homes or businesses at this stage unless it’s an emergency.”

The Energy Networks Association said its members are completing new risk assessments in consultation with trade union representative, the results of which will be shared with staff, contractors and the rest of the industry.

Where there are able to do so, employees will continue to work from home for the time being, although network operators are also developing plans to allow them to safely return to offices when the time is right.

When they do need to leave their homes in order to carry out essential work, staff will maintain social distancing rules, for example, by limiting one employee to each vehicle and creating shift patterns and fixed teams to minimise the number of people in contact with one another. The ENA said they are specifically looking how to applies these practices to project and construction sites.

ENA chief executive David Smith said: “Arguably, the most challenging times lie ahead as the country gradually eases lockdown measures, to varying degrees and in differing timescales. Continuing to work with our colleagues directly and through their trades unions and put them and customers first will be paramount to getting this right.”

Sue Ferns, senior deputy general secretary of Prospect, said: “Ensuring the health and safety of colleagues is key to a successful transition that maintains service to customers.  Consistent and constructive engagement at company and national level has ensured that energy network companies have been able to complete essential work with high standards of health and safety.

“We must continue this throughout the transition to new normal as well as making sure that the same high standards are followed by all contractors and suppliers. Companies, customers and trade unions have a shared interest in ensuring a safe, resilient and reliable network.”