25 November 2009
Update Wednesday November 25 evening
We continue to make good progress restoring electricity supplies to people left without power following the recent floods. No further updates will be posted on our website unless there are new incidents.
If you are without power or would like to arrange an access visit from an engineer to restore your supply please let us know by calling our 24 hour enquiry line on 0800 195 41 41.
Update Wednesday morning
Following the sustained effort of United Utilities engineers since the floods, all properties that were not flooded now have an electricity supply.
More than 730 properties in Cockermouth have been reconnected over the past several days. 330 properties that suffered flooding are still awaiting safety checks before they can be reconnected. Supplies to Keswick have been restored and approximately 40 properties Workington are also awaiting safety checks before they can be reconnected.
Our engineers are continuing their efforts to gain access to all properties affected to make safety checks on the electricity meter ahead of restoring supply.
The responsibility for internal wiring is with the property owner, and they will need to make their own arrangements with a qualified electrician to check the safety of all internal electrical wiring and any appliances that may have been affected before power can be fully restored.
Once customers have had these checks carried out, please contact United Utilities' 24-hour helpline on 0800 195 41 41 to arrange a visit to finally restore power.
Update Tuesday evening
Engineers have restored power to more than 650 properties today, largely in Cockermouth. Approximately 400 customers in the town remain without power this evening. These are properties which were affected by flood water.
Engineers are in the process of visiting every house which is still without power to carry out vital safety checks on meter installations. They are also advising property owners that they need to employ their own electricians to check internal wiring and appliances before they can have their power switched back on.
In Keswick and Buttermere supplies are are back to normal, although we are monitoring the current weather and flooding situation overnight.
Windermere: Where access has been possible all supplies have been restored. 35 properties still inaccessible due to flood water.
Northside and Barepot, Workington: Approximately 35 properties still without supply due to ongoing flooding issues.
Update Tuesday Afternoon
Engineers have now completed repairs to all nine affected substations, which means we can restore power to the properties that have not been affected by flood waters.
They have also been working hard today to restore supplies to more than 330 properties in the Cockermouth area - with more expected over the course of the day.
Everything is being done to restore supplies to the 600 properties in Cockermouth still affected as quickly as possible.
As we continue this process we are calling on customers living in Cockermouth - who have not done so already - to return to their homes.
This is a vital step in the ongoing electricity supply restoration process and we are making this request in full liaison with the police and local authorities.
If you live on any of the following streets in particular, can you please return home and call our Electricity Inquiries line on 0800 195 41 41 to confirm we can gain access to your property:
- St Leonard's Close
- Wakefield Road
- Gote Road
Alternatively residents can approach any of our engineers on the ground and leave their contact details with them to arrange access over the course of today. Please remember to ask for identification.
If your house has been flooded do NOT attempt to use the electricity supply until it has been thoroughly checked.
United Utilities will visit every affected property to carry out full safety checks on the meter installations.
This will be carried out on a street by street basis.
Engineers need access to properties to do this.
Contact United Utilities as soon as you have access to your property so that engineers can arrange to carry out these checks. The 24 hour number is: 0800 195 41 41.
It is also essential that your internal wiring and any electrical appliances are tested to ensure safety.
The responsibility for internal wiring is with the property owner, and you will need to make your own arrangements with a qualified electrician to check the safety of all internal electrical wiring and any appliances that may have been affected before power can be fully restored.
Once you have done so, please contact United Utilities on 0800 195 41 41 to arrange a visit to finally restore your power.
We are continuing to do everything possible to restore supplies to customers affected in North Side and Stainburn over the next few days.
Supplies to Keswick and Buttermere have now been restored.
United Utilities carries out the day-to-day running of the electricity network on behalf of Electricity North West (ENW).
Update Tuesday Morning
Our engineers have now completed repairs to all nine affected substations, which means we can restore power to the properties that have not been affected by flood waters.
We still have 1,000 customers in Cockermouth off supply - as well as 25 customers in North Side and 13 at Concrete Row, Stainburn. Supplies to Keswick and Buttermere have now been restored.
As we continue the process of restoring electricity supplies as quickly as possible, we are calling on customers living in Cockermouth - who have not done so already - to return to their homes. This is a vital step in the ongoing electricity supply restoration process and we are making this request in full liaison with the police and local authorities.
If you live on any of the following streets in particular, can you please return home and call our Electricity Inquiries line on 0800 195 41 41 to confirm we can gain access to your property:
- St Leonard's Close
- Wakefield Road
- Gote Road
Alternatively residents can approach any of our engineers on the ground and leave their contact details with them to arrange access over the course of today.
If your house has been flooded do NOT attempt to use the electricity supply until it has been thoroughly checked. United Utilities will visit every affected property to carry out full safety checks on the meter installations.
This will be carried out on a street by street basis. Engineers need access to properties to do this. Contact United Utilities as soon as you have access to your property so that engineers can arrange to carry out these checks. The 24 hour number is: 0800 195 41 41.
It is also essential that your internal wiring and any electrical appliances are tested to ensure safety. The responsibility for internal wiring is with the property owner, and you will need to make your own arrangements with a qualified electrician to check the safety of all internal electrical wiring and any appliances that may have been affected before power can be fully restored.
Once you have done so, please contact United Utilities on 0800 195 41 41 to arrange a visit to finally restore your power.
We are continuing to do everything possible to restore supplies to customers affected in North Side and Stainburn over the next few days.
United Utilities carries out the day-to-day running of the electricity network on behalf of Electricity North West (ENW).
Update: Monday evening
United Utilities carries out the day-to-day running of the electricity network on behalf of Electricity North West (ENW).
Power has been restored to more than 200 customers since our last update and eight of the nine affected substations have now been restored. This means we should be able to restore power to most of the properties that were not flooded.
Most of the flooded properties are empty and currently uninhabitable. We cannot restore power to these properties until we have carried out full safety checks on the meter installations. The good news is that access to the town is improving and we have started an extensive programme of checks whereever we can get access. This will continue tomorrow. Residents are asked to contact us when they are allowed back into their homes and businesses so that we can arrange to carry out these checks. Our 24 hour number is: 0800 195 41 41.
Properties without supply are in the following areas:
1. Cockermouth: 1,000 properties, mostly affected by flooding, are still without power.
We have gained access to all nine flooded substations. Eight have been re-energised and work is well-advanced on the remaining one which should be back in action later this evening. This will allow us to restore power to most of the homes that were not flooded. We will then progressively restore supplies as we gain access to flooded properties. We are liaising with local council and blue light services to gain access to properties to carry out repairs. Property checks are currently under way in Crown Street and Main Street.
2. Northside Workington - 25 customers without power following the substation being flooded. Safe access to the substation has now been established allowing us to assess for follow-up tomorrow. We will then continue the process of accessing flooded properties to carry out safety checks before supplies can be restored.
3. Keswick
We have now completed repairs to all our equipment.
We are awaiting checks on private wiring but all customers have had power restored to their meter.
We will continue to restore internal supplies as private electricians complete their work.
We expect this process to have been completed by close of play today.
4. Windermere
All properties have power restored as far as their meter. We will continue to restore internal supplies as private electricians complete their work. We are on course to complete this by the end of today.
5. Buttermere - overhead lines near the river have been repaired with the help of Mountain Rescue. All supplies now restored and generators removed.
6. Thornthwaite - substation was flooded - repairs have been completed and all properties were restored at 5pm.
7. Seaton / Camerton - overhead lines were washed away, supplies being maintained using generators.
8. Stainburn - 17 properties at Concrete Row were flooded. Power has now been restored to four of these but we have not been able to get access to restore supplies to the rest. We understand this could take until Friday. Please note that an additional 450 customers are currently without power in the Stainburn area as the result of a fault which occurred at 5.40pm. This is not believed to be related to flooding. Supplies to these people are expected to be restored later this evening.
Update Monday 11.30am
Power has been restored to the majority of customers who have suffered power loss over the past four days - caused by submerged substations or damaged overhead power lines. We have gained access to all of the substations that were submerged, and by lunchtime today we expect to have them all working again. This means that we should be able to restore power to most of the properties that have not been flooded.
Most of the remaining properties still without electricity were flooded and are empty and currently uninhabitable and our efforts to restore supplies are severely restricted by continuing access problems. We will not be able to restore power to these properties until we have gained access and carried out full safety checks on the meter installations. Residents are asked to contact us as soon as they are allowed access back to their flooded properties so that we can arrange to carry out these checks. Our 24 hour number is: 0800 195 4141.
Properties without supply are in the following areas:
1. Cockermouth 1,195 properties, mostly flooded, are still without power.
We have gained access to all nine flooded substations and made extremely good progress over the weekend. Seven substations have been re-energised already and we expect to have the remaining two back in action by lunchtime today. This will allow us to restore power to most of the homes that were not flooded. We will then progressively restore supplies as we gain access to flooded properties over the coming week.
We are liaising with local council and blue light services to gain access to properties to carry out repairs.
2. Northside Workington - 25 properties are without power following the substation being flooded. This is being repaired today, and then we will continue the process of accessing flooded properties to carry out safety checks before supplies can be restored.
3. Keswick
We have now completed repairs to all our equipment.
We are awaiting checks on private wiring but all customers have had power restored to their meter.
We will continue to restore internal supplies as private electricians complete their work.
We expect this process to have been completed by close of play today.
4. Windermere
Repairs have progressed well and all properties have power restored as far as their meter. We will continue to restore internal supplies as private electricians complete their work.
We expect this process to have been completed by close of play today.
5. Buttermere - overhead lines near the river were washed away, but all supplies now restored using generators.
6. Thornthwaite - substation was flooded - repairs have been completed and 4 remaining properties are expected to be restored later today.
7. Seaton / Camerton - overhead lines were washed away, but all supplies now restored by generators.
8. Stainburn - 17 properties at Concrete Row are flooded and inaccessible. Their power will be restored as soon as access is possible and we have made full safety checks at the meter, but we understand this could take until Friday.
United Utilities carries out the day-to-day running of the electricity network on behalf of Electricity North West (ENW).
Update Sunday 9pm
Power has been restored to the majority of customers who have suffered power loss over the past four days - caused by submerged substations or damaged overhead power lines. Many of the properties still without supply are empty and currently uninhabitable. Customers can report power loss on our 24 hour number: 0800 195 41 41.
Properties without supply are in the following areas:
- Cockermouth: Our engineers have now started to gain limited access to the area, allowing us to begin repairing electricity substations. We expect to gradually restore supplies in Cockermouth throughout the week, as we gain access to flooded properties in liaison with the local authority and emergency services. Currently, there are 522 properties without electricity, due to damaged substations. A further 643 properties have been turned off at the request of the emergency services, in order to safeguard rescue workers.
- Keswick: All repairs have now been completed to the electricity network in the area, allowing a remaining 130 customers without power to go back on supply as soon as the internal wiring of their homes has been checked. This process should be completed by the end of Monday.
- Windermere: 7 properties off supply, out of an original 110. Supply will be restored as soon as internal wiring checks have been completed.
- Stainburn, Thornthwaite, Northside Workington: a handful of properties in each of these areas are off supply, and will be restored throughout the course of this week.
United Utilities carries out the day-to-day running of the electricity network on behalf of Electricity North West (ENW).
Update: Sunday 15.00pm We have managed to restore supply to the vast majority of customers who have suffered power loss over the past four days - caused by submerged substations or damaged overhead power lines. Many of the properties still without supply are empty and currently uninhabitable - and restoration of supply is likely to take several days.
We will need to gain access to flooded properties to repair our equipment and carry out safety checks before we can restore power to the property. Our teams in the areas are working as quickly as possible to this.
Before electricity is used in the property it is essential that internal wiring is checked for safety. This responsibility rests with the property owner and the flood centres being set up at Keswick and Cockermouth are drawing up a list of qualified electricians which can be accessed by customers.
Following confirmation from customers that their homes have been certified as safe by an electrician our engineers will need access to properties to test and repair our equipment.
Customers are advised to take no risks - make sure appliances that are wet are isolated and dried out. If in doubt consult an electrician.
Customers returning to their homes to find they are without power are advised to call our Electricity Inquiries line on 0800 195 41 41 for more information.
Properties without supply are in the following areas:
- Cockermouth: 522 properties without electricity due to flooded substations. A further 643 properties have been turned off at the request of the emergency services for safety reasons. These properties will remain off supply until the flood waters recede and we can gain access to them over the next several days.
- Keswick: 130 properties without electricity but are expected to be restored either later today or early tomorrow morning (Monday, November 23).
- Windermere: 32 properties off supply but hoping to have these restored later today.
- Buttermere, Stainburn, Thornthwaite, Northside and Camerton: a handful of properties in each of these areas are off supply, the majority of which are empty. We will work as quickly as possible over the next several days to restore supplies gradually.
We are putting contingency plans in place to maintain electricity services following reports that the Calva Bridge in Workington is likely to collapse. Our engineers have confirmed that 374 customers in the Workington area would lose power if the bridge collapses and they are working tirelessly to protect these suppliers.
An engineer in scuba gear has swum out to a flooded line switch in a flooded field to isolate it to ensure that power is protected. This means we will be able to continue to supply those 374 customers.
For residents in north west Keswick, we are asking them to return home so we can begin the first stage of the home power supply restoration process. More details can be found here. We will continue to work closely with the Environment Agency, police and local authorities until normality is restored.
United Utilities carries out the day-to-day running of the electricity network on behalf of Electricity North West (ENW).
As of 11am today (Saturday, November 21) electricity supplies have been restored to just over 4,000 of the 5,000 customers affected following the flooding in Cumbria.
The majority of customers still affected are in Cockermouth, where access is still prohibited by the emergency services for safety reasons. The emergency services have requested that we interrupt supplies to the centre of Cockermouth to enable rescue workers to safely enter houses as their search and rescue activities continue. We are currently assessing how many properties will be affected and will provide an update shortly.
Work is progressing well in Keswick, where engineers have access to four of the five flooded substations in that area and can now begin work to start restoring supplies.
We will continue to work closely with the Environment Agency, police and local authorities until normality is restored.
We will continue to monitor weather reports in the region and gain access to wherever possible to continue restoring supplies.
Many houses without power are currently flooded and empty.
Safety checks will have to be carried out before these properties can have power switched back on.
For those customers still off supply it could be up to five days until power is restored due to access issues and water levels. Our teams in the areas are working as quickly as possible and we would like to reassure customers that are we are doing everything possible to restore supplies quickly and safely.
Customers returning to their homes to find they are without power are advised to call our Electricity Inquiries line on 0800 195 41 41 for more information.
The breakdown of customers affected:
- 522 customers are off supply in Cockermouth
- 347 are off supply in Keswick
- 86 are off in Stainburn but we are hoping to restore 50 of these in the next few hours
- The remaining customers are in isolated pockets which we are awaiting access to
We still have three substations flooded in Cockermouth.
United Utilities carries out the day-to-day running of the electricity network on Electricity North West's (ENW) behalf.