Winter preparations underway

With winter now upon us, wetter, windier and frostier weather is to be expected in the weeks and months ahead – all of which can present our electricity network with some additional challenges.

But ever vigilant, we ensure that our high tech systems and dedicated staff are in place so that whatever the weather we can endeavour to restore power supplies quickly if they are disrupted.

Forward planning and regular advanced Met Office weather predictions mean that our operational depots are always primed and staffed for when poor weather arrives.

In these instances, we have additional operational and engineering staff in place and on stand-by, as well as extra Contact and Control Centre operatives available to look after the electricity network and to help customers with their enquiries.

And where weather permits, our Helicopter Unit is also on hand to further pinpoint any damage caused to our overhead network and to help speed up repairs and power restoration times.

We also have arrangements in place with the Red Cross and the Royal Volunteer Service to provide extra support to customers when needed – and we provide a priority service for particularly vulnerable customers, such as the less abled and elderly who may be affected by power cuts.

Over the next eight years, we will be investing £3billion to replace network assets and reinforce our network, further securing future electricity supplies. We also have a resilience programme in place which is designed to reduce the impact of flooding and weather on our network.

If you experience a power cut or spot anything dangerous which may affect the electricity network, please contact us by phone or via Twitter @wpduk.

All our contact details can be found here.

Click here for more information about WPD’s Priority Service Register.

Click here for power cut advice.