Since 1993 Northern Ireland Electricity has invested over £1 billion in improvements to the electricity network. This has substantially reduced the number and length of disruptions, however, storms, vandalism, third party damage and other events can still affect your supply.

David Keys, Customer Relations Manager, Northern Ireland Electricity says: “Our significant recent investments in upgrading and maintaining the electricity network means a greater security of supply for customers.

Knowledge gained from responding to previous storm damage means that we are now at the forefront of electricity companies in managing the process of restoring supplies following a major incident.”

“However, it is impossible to make any network completely secure, especially one that serves such a largely rural and dispersed population.

We understand that any loss of electricity supplies can be a frustrating and unpleasant experience so we are urging customers to make an annual check to ensure that they are able to minimise the impact of a power cut.”

Be prepared:

• Know where your household fuses and trip switches are
• Keep a supply of batteries for radios and torches and candles in the house
• Customers dependent on electrical equipment for healthcare should join Northern Ireland Electricity’s Critical Care Register. This priority service ensures that Critical Care customers can obtain up-to-date information if their power is lost.
• Vulnerable customers in conjunction with their healthcare advisors, if appropriate, should consider how they would cope with a prolonged loss of electricity supplies and prepare a personal action plan.
• For more information on Northern Ireland Electricity’s Critical Care Register, telephone 08457 643 643

If your electricity goes off:
 

• Customers should first check their household trip switch and fuses
• Contact Northern Ireland Electricity’s Customer Helpline on 08457 643 643 and have their telephone number and postcode available. In the event of a widespread loss of electricity supplies you may make contact with a call handler, or more likely receive Northern Ireland Electricity’s automated service where you can leave details of the premises affected by the interruption and receive a message providing the latest information available
• Never approach broken lines or damaged poles, and keep children and animals away. Ensure electric cookers and heaters are switched off, but leave a light on so you know when the power is restored.
• Take care if using candles or other naked flames
• If you are using a generator, be careful where you site it in case of carbon monoxide poisoning
• Listen to the radio for information bulletins
• Check on elderly or vulnerable neighbours or relatives
  
   

David Keys adds: “If you telephone Northern Ireland Electricity and receive a recorded message, please listen carefully. If you are calling to report a hazardous or life threatening situation your call will be given priority do not misuse this facility as it may cause delays in our response to genuine emergencies.

Customers should be aware that it will take us some time to investigate the cause of a fault following damage to the network and detailed information will not be immediately available.”

The automated system will pass your details through to our fault management team and whether it is an individual fault or widespread damage following severe weather, you can be assured that we will be doing everything possible to restore supplies as soon as possible".