A tow wire attached to a glider disconnected and became entangled in a section of Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks' high voltage overhead cable in West Sussex, the distribution operator said on 1 August 2022. Power was cut to some 3,250 local customers while engineers worked to remove the wire safely and check the network for damage1.
SSEN is the distribution network operator responsible for delivering power to over 3.8 million homes and businesses across central southern England and the north of Scotland1. The company said nobody was injured in the incident. Its head of safety, Peter Vujanic, said any object coming into contact with a power supply, especially a high voltage one, has the potential for extremely serious consequences1.
"Take the time to look up and look around you, and if you do happen to spot any issues or damage to our network, keep your distance and call freephone 105 straight away."
The operator set out what it says people should do if an item comes into contact with, or is blown towards, an electricity line: let go of any strings or wires immediately; do not attempt to pull the item free, because electricity can travel through it; keep yourself and others well away; and ring 105 so engineers can attend the site as soon as possible1. SSEN adds that people should not try to retrieve items themselves, even if they look to be in reach, including toys stuck inside a substation fence1. It also advises moving away from overhead cables or substations when playing with kites or model aircraft, and not setting up barbeques or other heat sources near electrical infrastructure1. Model planes and drones can travel at very high speeds and, if they strike a power line or crash into a substation, can damage equipment and cause a power cut, the company said1.
Why it matters for households
The incident shows how a single object touching an overhead line can interrupt supply to thousands of homes at once. SSEN's account does not say how long the 3,250 customers were off supply, nor which parts of West Sussex were affected; neither has been reported. Households who lose power can report it on 105, the number SSEN gives for spotting damage to its network and for its emergency line, as set out in the guide on how to report a loss of electricity. The company's safety points apply to anyone whose kite, drone or model aircraft comes down near lines: it advises keeping away and not pulling the item free, the same principle covered in fallen overhead lines. For the wider picture of why supplies fail, see why the electricity goes off, and for what to do during an interruption, what to do when the electricity goes off.
What happens next
No further steps have been announced. SSEN directs customers to its own safety pages for more information1.
What to Do in a Power Cut
Reporting a Power Cut
Power Cuts Household Guide
Fallen Overhead Lines
