Our Network: Responding to Emergencies

The reliability of supply is dependent on the integrity of the distribution network. Our networks distribute electricity on behalf of all suppliers. In London and the south east of England, around 60% of customers are connected to our own networks. In other areas, including the south west of England, our customers are reliant on the networks operated by other companies.

With around 40% of the UK’s GDP reliant on our distribution networks, ensuring a high-level of network reliability is extremely important. With 173,000 km of cables and wires to maintain, this is a real challenge.

Since the violent storms of October 2002, when the east of England was particularly badly hit, we have worked hard on our preparations for major network incidents. A strategic emergency response plan is now in place across our three networks so that we are better equipped to deploy resources at short notice. The plan was successfully implemented on several occasions over the past year when high winds and snow swept across our regions.

Our investment programme to improve the performance of the network during storm conditions, including the use of new types of protected overhead conductor, automatic switches and shrouding of line connections, can limit the number of customers affected by faults during severe weather and can reduce the length of time that those affected are without supply.

Over the last two years we have commissioned more fully-automated schemes that will restore power without any manual intervention to improve the quality of supply. We have also introduced the largest network control system in the country in London and the East of England and a three-year programme is underway to set it up in the South East. We have also introduced the ENMAC system (Energy Network Management and Control), which remotely controls major substation sites and allows high voltage networks to be reconfigured within minutes of a fault being detected. This substantially reduces the number of customers affected by a fault and the time they are without power.

In times of widespread emergency, we aim to communicate with customers via their local radio station and, during more localised but prolonged interruptions, we now have dedicated 'call back' teams to contact those customers we know have been affected to provide them with up-to-date information on the fault.

In conjunction with electricity supply companies, we have developed a register of 'priority services' customers, so that we can call them if a power cut affects them and provide up-to-date information and advice. We also work with those voluntary agencies who deliver food to people on the register during longer power cuts.

Our engineers carry Power Cut Helpline leaflets, to hand out on site, with information about the EDF Energy services, what to do in an emergency and listing company contact numbers.