Storm Babet was declared a named storm on Monday 16 October 2023, Northern Powergrid has said. The distribution network operator, which supplies 8 million people across 3.9 million homes and businesses in the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire, reported that the storm brought high winds, heavy rain and a heightened flood risk affecting areas across its operating region1.
In an update published on 21 October 2023, Northern Powergrid said it had restored power to 55,000 customers affected by the storm. It recorded 5,400 calls into its contact centre and said it had proactively contacted more than 2,000 customers on its Priority Services Membership (PSM), providing additional support and welfare provision where needed1. The company said the storm battered many parts of the UK, including Scotland and the North East coast1.
Andy Bilclough, Northern Powergrid's Director of Field Operations, said teams were prepared and ready to respond, and that key priorities were restoring power as quickly and safely as possible and ensuring anyone who may be vulnerable, or in need of extra help during a power cut, was prioritised and supported1. Louise Lowes, the company's Head of Customer Service, said contact centre teams experienced higher than usual call volumes, and that customers who might need extra support during a power cut were contacted proactively by phone, text and email1.
"Declared a named storm on Monday 16 October, Storm Babet battered many parts of the UK"
The Met Office's naming of storms, and how names are chosen, is set out in the guide to named storms. Wider practical information on severe weather is in the storms and snow hub.
Why it matters for households
The effects described were concentrated in Northern Powergrid's patch: the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire, with the storm also affecting Scotland and the North East coast1. For households there, the practical consequence was loss of supply for 55,000 customers at the height of the event, all of whom the company says have since had power restored1.
The company's account sets out how it contacted customers who might need extra help during a power cut, through its Priority Services Membership, by phone, text and email1. Households who may need additional support during a supply interruption can therefore expect contact through that route where they are registered; the company describes the membership as the means by which it proactively reaches those customers1.
No advice to households is given in the company's update beyond its account of its own response. It thanks customers for their patience while power was restored1.
What happens next
No further dated steps are given in the 21 October 2023 update, which states that power has been restored to all customers affected1.
Sources (1)
- Storm Babet | Northern Powergrid, northernpowergrid.com
