Heavy snow cuts power to around 26,072 Northern Powergrid customers

Heavy snow across the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire affected around 26,072 Northern Powergrid customers on Sunday 5 January 2025, the network operator said, with the most impact seen across the Yorkshire region¹. In an update issued as at 8pm that day, Northern Powergrid said its teams had restored power to just under 25,000 customers, leaving just under 1,500 without supply¹.

The figures moved through the day as conditions continued. An earlier update as at 5:30pm put the number affected at around 22,700, with 20,186 restored and 2,871 customers still off supply². A still earlier bulletin on the same day reported 12,306 customers affected, 2,649 restored and North Yorkshire the worst affected area³. The 8pm update recorded the most impact across Yorkshire as a whole¹.

The disruption continued into the following week. On 6 January Northern Powergrid reported that over 27,000 customers across the three regions had experienced outages during Sunday, and that a further 15,368 customers had lost power from Sunday evening into Monday, with Northumberland and County Durham, and Tyne and Wear, now the worst affected areas⁴. A separate update that morning, as at 10:45am, put the cumulative figure at around 27,118 customers affected, with power returned to 27,014 and around 104 customers from the first band of snow and freezing rain still without supply⁵. On 7 January the operator said it had restored power to over 42,000 customers affected by snow, wind and rain from Saturday evening into Monday, and that West Yorkshire's rural communities were worst affected through Sunday, with freezing conditions, fallen trees, flooding and debris making access difficult⁶.

Northern Powergrid said its teams used 4x4s and specialist access vehicles, and patrolled by foot and helicopter⁶. It said its contact centre was available 24/7 and that staff were reaching out to affected customers and signposting warm hubs, which were open until 11pm on 5 January and until 10pm on 6 January¹.

Why it matters for households

The affected area covers Northern Powergrid's distribution area: the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire¹. The operator said customers on its free Priority Services Membership would receive extra help and would be kept in touch about when power is likely to be back on, contacted by text message where it holds a mobile number or by landline call otherwise¹. It gave a dedicated priority service line, 0800 169 2996, and said people can sign up at northernpowergrid.com/care or by calling 105¹. The Priority Services Register guide explains who can join and what it provides.

Northern Powergrid directed customers to its live power cut map as the quickest way to report a cut and get updates, saying it holds the same information as its contact centre teams about expected restoration times¹. It asked anyone who spots damaged power lines or electricity network equipment to stay well clear and call 105 immediately³. Warm hubs offered warmth and hot meals during the outage¹. Our guides on power cuts and on how long until the electricity comes back cover what happens during a supply loss, and storms and the electricity network sets out how weather affects overhead lines.

What happens next

Northern Powergrid said on 7 January that power had been restored to all customers affected by the wintery weekend, while noting conditions remained challenging in places and that teams would continue working to keep customers' lights on⁶. No further dated steps have been reported.