Engineers are on standby ahead of Storm Éowyn hitting Cumbria
Electricity North West are putting region wide preparations in place which will see hundreds of engineers on standby along with increased numbers of staff in its contact centre.
The electricity provider said given the severity of the predicted wind speeds, damage to overhead electricity lines is likely and it may not be safe for overhead lines teams to climb poles and repair damage until wind speeds decrease.
Alan Astall, head of network control at Electricity North West, said: “We’re expecting the worst of the weather on Friday, however, we do expect some wind gusts to be seen throughout Saturday.
“Our preparation plans are well-rehearsed and have been put into action several times in the last few months.
“We know strong winds can be disruptive by blowing debris into overhead lines whilst heavy rain can cause access issues if we experience flooding.
“Our main priority is safety so if people do notice any damage to the network, for example damaged overhead lines or electricity poles, contact us immediately by calling 105.
“And if you or someone you know would be adversely affected by a power cut, you can join our free Extra Care Register for a bit of additional help and support.”
The Met Office has also said further updates to the current weather warnings are likely in the coming days.
Alan added: “Our teams monitor the forecast daily and we actively manage the power network 24/7, 365 days a year. When bad weather is forecast, we always ramp up our preparations so we can respond quickly.
“Our preparations happen months in advance which involves teams of tree cutters cutting back trees from overhead lines, and our engineering teams installing new equipment to identify network issues and restore power faster to reduce the impact on customers.”
