SP Energy Networks issued safety advice to customers on 16 February 2022, ahead of forecast high winds from Storm Dudley and Storm Eunice. The Met Office had issued yellow and amber weather warnings for parts of the UK for the Wednesday and Thursday, with winds of more than 70mph expected to cause traffic delays and cancellations to transport services, and with the potential for power supplies and mobile phone coverage to be affected1.
The network operator said Storm Eunice was scheduled to hit on Friday, likely continuing the strong winds and potentially bringing some snow to parts of the UK1. It said it had been working to improve the electricity networks' resilience during extreme weather to help reduce the chance of power loss, but that some damage to power lines was still likely, and that fallen trees and windborne debris could make access for engineers difficult1.
Guy Jefferson, the company's Chief Operating Officer, said:
"We're currently mobilising teams of engineers to areas where we expect Storms Dudley and Eunice to have the most impact and our teams are on hand 24/7 to help all of our customers should they find themselves without power. The faster we know about a power cut the more quickly we can begin work to get electricity restored, so if you experience a power cut please report it to us by calling the national emergency helpline 105."
The advice issued by the company covered five points1:
| Advice | Detail given by SP Energy Networks |
|---|---|
| Report outages | Call the national emergency helpline 105; keep the number on the fridge or saved in a mobile phone |
| Lighting | Store a battery or wind-up torch somewhere easily reached, to check the fuse box and move around the house safely |
| Fallen lines | Power lines may have fallen because of high winds; beware of this when venturing out of the home |
| Phones | Keep a mobile phone charged to call 105; an analogue phone is also worth having as it does not run off the main electricity supply |
| Priority Services Register | For those for whom electricity is crucial to health, such as users of medical equipment at home, households with a child aged five or under, or anyone who feels they need extra help; call 0330 1010 167 or text PSR to 61999 |
Why it matters for households
The warnings applied to parts of the UK across Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of that week, and the company said residents were being encouraged to prepare for some significant disruption1. Households in the areas expected to be worst affected faced the possibility of losing electricity and mobile phone coverage at the same time, which is why the company's advice covers a charged phone, an analogue phone and a torch kept within easy reach1. The company said its teams were on hand 24/7 for customers without power, and that reporting a loss of supply quickly allows work to restore electricity to begin sooner1. Households that depend on electricity for medical equipment, those with a child aged five or under, and anyone who feels they need extra help could ask to join the company's free Priority Services Register1. The site's guides on storms and the electricity network and on what to do when the electricity goes off cover the same ground for households, and the Priority Services Register guide explains who can join and what it provides.
What happens next
SP Energy Networks said it was mobilising teams of engineers to the areas where Storms Dudley and Eunice were expected to have the most impact, and that customers should report any power cut on the national emergency helpline 1051. No further dates were given in the announcement.
Storms and the Electricity Grid
What to Do in a Power Cut
Power Cuts Household Guide
Getting Ready for a Power Cut
Why the Electricity Goes Off
Staying Safe in the Dark
