NORTHERN POWERGRID PREPARED FOR STORM MALIK

Northern Powergrid, the company that powers everyday life for 8 million people by delivering electricity to 3.9 million homes and businesses across the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire, is reassuring customers that its teams are ready to respond should Storm Malik have an impact on the region's power network and customers' power supplies.

The Met Office forecasts that Storm Malik could bring gale force winds across the company's operating area across the weekend and into Monday morning. Winds speeds are forecast to be 60mph widely with potential for stronger winds in exposed areas particularly for later on Sunday.

Rod Gardner, Northern Powergrid's major incident manager, said: "We closely track the weather and have ensured our resources are in place to respond if the forecasted gales were to impact our network.

"Our network control engineers have capability to restore power supplies remotely, switching electricity through alternative routes on our network wherever possible to get customers back on supply. In parallel our frontline workforce will be deployed to carry out local switching and repairs to restore power as safely and quickly as possible, conditions allowing."

Northern Powergrid's website and its 24/7 social media feeds on Facebook and Twitter (@NorthPowergrid) will provide updates for customers. The electricity distributor is also reminding anyone who spots any damaged overhead power lines or other equipment that they must not approach the area and should report it immediately by calling 105.

Its 24/7 contact centre will remain available with advisors ready to provide information, advice and support to customers who call 105, the free, three-digit power cut number.

Customers with a disability, medical condition or very young families, who may need greater assistance during a power cut and have signed up to the company's Priority Services Membership, will be kept updated as a priority. Northern Powergrid's customer support vehicles are also prepped and ready to go out into our local communities, where possible, to offer help on the ground to those who need it most.

The network operator's safe working practices and robust operating protocols have meant that Northern Powergrid has been there for its customers powering businesses, homes, hospitals, vaccine sites and supermarkets throughout the pandemic. Customers are asked not to approach Northern Powergrid's key workers unless it is an electricity emergency and if they do so they should maintain a safe distance at all times.

Power cut tips and advice include:

• bookmarking Northern Powergrid's online power cut map and reporting service on their mobile devices - www.northernpowergrid.com/power-cuts
• having a charged mobile phone with important numbers, including 105, easily accessible
• turning off electrical appliances at the socket (this is particularly important for heating or cooking appliances as your power could be restored at any time and potentially cause a safety hazard)
• keeping one light switched on so you know when power is restored
• keeping a battery or wind-up torch handy - as they're much safer than candles
• checking on your elderly or sick neighbours and relatives and consider joining Northern Powergrid's free Priority Services Membership if you might be more vulnerable in a power cut - www.northernpowergrid.com/care
• ensuring you have warm clothing and blankets handy and some food and drink in your home that does not require electricity to heat or prepare it, and
• only call 999 in an emergency.

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