As a red weather warning for Storm Eowyn sweeps the country, SP Energy Networks have issued safety advice to keep people safe during potential power cuts.
A rare red ‘danger to life’ weather warning has been issued across the country ahead of the arrival of Storm Eowyn on Friday.
Gusts of wind reaching up to 88mph are expected to batter parts of the region on Friday.
The Met Office is warning of “very dangerous” driving conditions and the potential for buildings to be damaged.
SP Energy Networks is committed to helping communities prepare for extreme weather and how the company responds when a storm hits.
The recent Storm Darragh is a prime example of this. During the storm, SP Energy Networks took the equivalent of four months of calls within three days, with dozens and dozens of additional field team staff deployed to impacted areas to assist and support communities.
The customer services team also sent 210,000 SMS and voice alerts to customers to keep them fully updated both before and during the storm.
SP Energy Networks’ top tips’ to keep people safe, should their power go out are:
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Ensure you store a battery-powered or wind-up torch in an easily accessible location so you can use it to check the fuse box and navigate around your home safely.
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Power lines may fall because of stormy weather so beware of this when venturing out of your home. Always treat them as live, stay away and report them right away by calling 999.
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Having your mobile phone charged means you can give SP Energy Networks a call on the national 105 emergency helpline. Please don’t assume we know if your power is out, so call us right away.
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You can check online using the SP Energy Networks postcode look-up tool for live updates on power cuts in your area and to check if the team is already aware that your power is down.
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If your power does go out, your heating might not work, so keep extra blankets nearby and close window shutters, blinds or curtains to help keep the heat in.
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Teams work around the clock to restore electricity as quickly as possible but customers who feel they need extra support may be eligible for the Priority Services Register. Visit the SP Energy Networks website or call 0330 10 10 167 for more information.
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Make sure we have up-to-date contact details for you, so we can keep in touch with you as appropriate.
Kendal Morris, Customer Services Director at SP Energy Networks, said: “Our teams are hard at work getting ready for Storm Eowyn – mobilising hundreds of engineers, vehicles, generators and equipment to where they’re likely to be needed most.
“Providing a safe and reliable power supply is a massive team effort all year round, but never more so than during winter and our focus is on ensuring we’re ready to respond as safely and as quickly as possible if the weather affects our customers’ power supplies.
“We use every resource at our disposal to make sure we’re there for our customers every minute of every day – responding rapidly to minimise any disruption and help them stay safe.
“Our customers can also help themselves prepare for adverse weather and potential power cuts by following our top tips and doing everything they can to help shield themselves from the worst impact of the storm.”
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