Networks win reconnection battle

More than 350,000 homes and businesses were off electricity supply last week as gales battered much of the UK. While most were reconnected within 24 hours, several thousand properties were left without power for more than a day.

Around 215,000 properties were affected in England alone with network companies working flat out to reconnect supplies, repair faults and clear debris.
According to UK Power Networks, 69,713 customers were affected by power interruptions on Tuesday in the southeast and east of England. A further 60,410 were affected overnight on Wednesday and Thursday. A spokesperson said that during the height of the storm, 304 linesmen, 140 engineers, 70 scouts and 100 tree cutters were deployed.
The former CE Networks, now called Northern Powergrid, saw supplies to 45,000 customers interrupted over two stormy nights with over 300 separate faults registered.
On Thursday morning, Western Power Distribution said 10,000 customers were off supply in the east Midlands, with faults running at five times the usual level. In the west Midlands, 6,000 were off supply with fault levels running eight times higher than usual. The firm reported 2,000 customers off supply in the southwest and 500 off in Wales.
Electricity North West said it had received more than 7,000 calls in 48 hours after 11,000 lost supplies. It reported more than 150 separate faults in the region.
l Last week’s gales blew the roof off a gas maintenance shelter in the village of Steeton, near Keighley, Yorkshire, prompting loss of gas supplies to 1,600 properties. Northern Gas Networks had to draft in extra engineers to restore gas to the affected households and businesses.

This article first appeared in Utility Week’s print edition of 13 January 2012.
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