Storm Jocelyn expected to cause further disruption

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution said on Monday 22 January that Storm Jocelyn was expected to cause disruption on Tuesday and Wednesday, and that it was watching the storm's path and was ready to respond to any issues on its network¹. The statement came as SSEN reported that most of the tens of thousands of customers in the north of Scotland whose supply was affected by Storm Isha had been reconnected¹.

As of 9.45pm on Monday, supplies had been restored to more than 36,000 homes, with just under 800 customers still off supply¹. SSEN gave the following figures by district¹:

SSEN said it anticipated being able to connect all but around 600 customers by the end of the evening, and that full network restoration would not be possible for all customers that night because of the nature of the damage and the challenges of reaching faults caused by fallen trees and road closures¹. It said Storm Isha's storm-force winds had caused damage in several areas where trees and wind-borne debris came into contact with power lines¹.

Andy Smith, Operations Director at SSEN Distribution, said:

SSEN said its customer contact centre team had been in direct contact with more than 8,500 people during Monday to offer help, information and support¹. Customers on its Priority Services Register who were likely to be without power overnight were offered alternative accommodation, and people on the Register can claim reasonable costs for alternative accommodation if it is expected they will be without power for over 24 hours¹. Customers without power for more than 12 hours are entitled to £30 per person for every day without power to cover the cost of food and drink, and SSEN said people should keep their receipts and claim costs back at www.ssen.co.uk/stormclaim¹.

Why it matters for households

The disruption affects households in the north of Scotland on SSEN's network, with further disruption possible on Tuesday and Wednesday¹. SSEN advises people not to approach any damaged equipment, and to report it by calling 105 or via its Power Track app so engineers can investigate as soon as possible¹. It also points customers to its Power Track website for details of power cuts and restoration times, and says power cuts and network damage can be reported there¹. SSEN encourages customers to save the emergency power cut number 105 and to follow its Facebook and Twitter (ssencommunity) accounts for regular updates¹. It says the power cut helpline on 105 can be called at any time for help, advice and support¹.

SSEN lists the following as eligible for its Priority Services Register: people who are deaf or hard of hearing; have a disability; live with children under five; are blind or partially sighted; have a chronic illness; use medical equipment or aids reliant on electricity; or are over 60¹. It says all its priority services are free, and the Register can be discussed on 0800 294 3259¹. The Priority Services Register guide explains who can join and what it provides, and the storms and electricity network guide sets out what happens during storm-related cuts.

What happens next

SSEN said it was ready to respond to any issues Storm Jocelyn might cause on its network through Tuesday and Wednesday¹. No further detail on Jocelyn's track, the areas it may affect or expected customer numbers has been reported in the statement. Households can follow updates through SSEN's Power Track service and its social media accounts, and report losses of supply or network damage on 105¹.