Severe weather causes power cuts - 5pm update

17/01/2009

Gale force winds in south and west Northern Ireland are causing disruptions to the electricity network.  
 
Gusts reaching 70mph have left around 24,000 customers off supply and damage to the electricity network including broken lines and poles down.  
 
Major faults have been reported in the Craigavon and Downpatrick areas. Ballyclare, Bangor and Newry have also been affected. Northern Ireland Electricity emergency teams are on the ground to assess the damage. Once the wind speed has eased and it safe to do so, they will start repairs.  
 
Northern Ireland Electricity has mobilised its Duty Incident Team and opened all of its local incident centres from early afternoon in preparation for the severe weather. Additional call handlers have also been brought in.  
 
Customers who contact Northern Ireland Electricity by phone on 08457 643 643 should listen carefully to the recorded telephone messages which are being regularly updated. If possible, customers will be answered by a call handler, otherwise there will be a separate facility to leave a message to report a hazard or visible damage to the electricity network.  
 
Updated information will be provided regularly to the media and the company asks customers to listen to their radios for updates.  
 
A spokesperson from Northern Ireland Electricity said, “We have already restored electricity to 5,000 customers and are working on the other faults as quickly as it is safe to do so.  
 
We will be issuing regular updates to the media. The same information will be available from call handlers and recorded messages.”  
 
Northern Ireland Electricity is also 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 Northern Ireland Electricity on 08457 643 643 and listen to recorded messages carefully  
- 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.  
 
 
 

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