10am update - Storm Force Winds Cause Power Cuts

09/01/2008

Storm force winds, with gusts in excess of 77 Mph, have caused disruption to electricity supplies, currently affecting around 2,800 customers. The worst affected areas are parts of the North West, Omagh, Coleraine and Ballymena.  
 
There are currently some 230 individual faults on the electricity network, which have been caused by flying debris and high winds and include broken lines and poles and damage to other NIE equipment. Up to 400 NIE staff have been mobilised this morning.  
 
NIE’s main Incident Management Centre at Craigavon is open and all 11 NIE Incident Centres across Northern Ireland are also open, reinforcing NIE’s normal capability to restore power.  
 
NIE Spokesperson Kerstie Forsyth said: "NIE emergency crews have been restoring customers from late last night. We had to stop work during the night for safety reasons, but our emergency crews are out working again this morning to get customers back on supply as quickly as humanly possible, consistent with safety.  
 
“The electricity network proved fairly robust, but we may see some new small faults this morning.”  
 
NIE has reminded customers of the precautionary measures to take in the event of a power cut:  
- never approach broken lines or damaged poles and keep children and animals away - report damage to NIE on 08457 643 643  
- turn off electric cookers, ovens, irons, etc. if electricity supply is lost  
- leave a light switched on, so you know when power has been restored  
- take extra care if using candles, oil lamps or other naked flames  
- test smoke alarms with fresh batteries  
- ensure adequate ventilation if using gas heaters  
- customers should also ensure they have batteries for radios  
 
Kerstie Forsyth again: “Any customer wishing to report a fault, can contact NIE's Customer Helpline on 08457 643 643.  
 
“We will be issuing regularly updated information through radio news bulletins as well. The same information will be available from call handlers, recorded messages and radio bulletins.”  

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