Work to switch around 23,000 customers in Lancaster and surrounding areas back to the power grid tomorrow (Friday 11th December) – but there will be short power cuts in the process.
More than 70 generators have been providing power to customers in the area since the River Lune burst its banks and flooded the main substation.
Repair works are still ongoing at the substation and once completed engineers will be onsite tomorrow evening working to switch customers back to the power grid and back to a normal and reliable power supply.
Customers will be switched back to the grid between 5.00pm-midnight tomorrow (11th December).
Mark Williamson, operations director for Electricity North West, said: “Engineers have worked day and night to repair the extensive damage at the substation and have made great progress over the last couple of days.
“We provided generators to ensure homes and businesses had power and tomorrow evening we will be able to start reconnecting all our customers back to the main grid and back to a normal robust supply.
“We are contacting customers in advance and we understand that there is never a convenient time to be without power, but this work is being carried out at the earliest time possible and will ensure customers are fully reconnected.
“We would like to thank customers for their continued patience this week, we know this has been a very trying time for people and the support we have received has been incredible.”
When switching customers back tomorrow they will experience a short power outage for up to 30 minutes. Engineers will be on site and power will be reconnected very quickly.
If customers experience a power cut longer than an hour between 5.00pm and midnight they must notify Electricity North West on 0800 195 4141 or on Twitter @ElectricityNW and engineers will be dispatched to investigate.
In Cumbria around 1,000 properties remain without power due to flooding and engineers have to do door-to-door safety checks on our equipment before being able to safely restore power.
This is an incredibly complicated coordination exercise as it needs customers to return to their flooded homes to get access but engineers are working as quickly and safely as possible.
• If you’re already back on the grid there should be no loss of power. Most of Morecambe is on the grid. If in doubt try this fault checker site on the ENW web site – but we suggest you assume there will be power cuts unless you have been told differently by ENW staff direct, and don’t start cooking a three course meal!
• All latest updates are being posted online at www.electricitynorthwest.co.uk, Twitter @ElectricityNW and on Electricity North West’s Facebook page here.