Thursday 21 December - 5pm

Our teams continue to work hard in challenging conditions to restore power supplies and support customers, as heavy winds have affected parts of our electricity network. The wind is now beginning to ease, with most areas operating as usual. However, in the East Midlands, our worst affected region, 2,000 properties are currently without power. Strong winds can lead to overhead power lines and equipment being damaged by flying debris. Fallen trees have also blocked roads that can restrict our access to incidents. Please be assured that while power remains off to some homes and businesses, we will continue to repair and restore supplies safely. Our Contact Centres are open 24 hours a day, so you can call us on 105 for information and support any time.

For specific information about how your area is affected, visit our live power cuts map.Further tips and advice about power cuts can be found on our Winter Hub. 

Further update 

A further update is due around 9:30am tomorrow.

Find out more about Guaranteed Standards of performance here. 

Steps we are taking

•  Additional operational and engineering staff have been brought in to deal with power cuts and repair network equipment.
• Additional Contact and Control Centre teams are available to manage the electricity network and to help customers with their enquiries.
• All non-essential work has been rescheduled to make more staff available for customer restorations and network repairs.
• Every customer on our Priority Services Register that experiences a power cut is being contacted with updates and being offered additional support.
• Helicopters are available to fly and identify badly affected areas to hasten repairs if safe to do so.
• Generator suppliers are on standby.
• Offices will be open 24/7 if needed.

Tips on how you can prepare in case of a power cut

We have some useful tips which you may find helpful to help you prepare for Storm Pia:

1. Keep our telephone number handy or save it in your mobile phone (105 or 0800 6783 105) so that you can report a power cut or call for information and advice.
2. Keep a battery/solar charger handy so that you can recharge your smart phone or tablet and follow updates on social media, our online power cut map or Power Cut Reporter app.
3. Keep your freezer shut – depending on the type of freezer you have, the contents could stay frozen for up to 12 hours.
4. Check that you have a phone available that will work in a power cut – digital or cordless ones may not work.
5. Have things like a torch or lantern ready (it is best not to use candles or paraffin lights).
6. Protect sensitive electrical equipment such as computers with a surge protector plug.
7. If you have a mains operated stair lift, check to see if there is a manual release handle that can be used to return it safely to ground level if it stops working.

Additional information

If you experience a power cut or spot anything dangerous which may affect the electricity network, please contact us anytime by:

Phone: 105 or 0800 6783 105

Twitter: @gridcustomersuk

Webchat: www.nationalgrid.co.uk

All of our contact details can be found here. For our most vulnerable customers, we also provide additional support during a power cut. Click here for more information about our Priority Services Register.