News Detail

Engineers and field staff from CE Electric UK, the region’s electricity distributor, have so far restored supplies to over 67,000 customers from a total of 86,000 whose power was disrupted by torrential rain and flooding.  Not surprisingly Sheffield has been worst affected; our figures show that 76,000 customers left without supply due severe flooding which has caused substantial damage to both National Grid’s and our equipment.  So far, we have already managed to restore many customers’ supplies and have restored supplies to a further 26,000 customers in North West Sheffield today by carrying out further switching and repairs on our electricity network.

Today we will reach a point where we will have reconnected so many people in Sheffield that allowing them all to use their normal amount of power would do some very serious damage to the parts of the network that are keeping the lights on in Sheffield.  So, we will need to start to limit the power being used throughout the day by imposing a series of relatively short, planned power cuts.

Unfortunately, due to the number of important sites that have been affected, it is going to take several days before our customers supplies are fully back to normal.  We are working closely with our colleagues at National Grid, who have also suffered substantial damage to one of their main in feeds, to secure supplies in Sheffield. 

If we can avoid making an interruption, then we will but our best assessment at the moment is that there is a 50:50 chance that customers in the postcodes that we have listed will experience power cuts during today.

We appreciate how difficult it is for our customers at this time and we are grateful to them for their patience and ongoing help in reducing the amount of electricity they are using.

The post code areas that may be affected in approximately 3 hour blocks during Wednesday 27 June are listed as follows:
Sheffield Postcode

• S1
• S3
• S5
• S6
• S10
• S30
• S35

More information will be available during these power interruptions by calling 0800 169 2996 where customers will hear a recorded message for their local area.

If your supply is interrupted during this time, please keep a close eye on your neighbours if they are elderly, in ill health or have special needs.   If you rely on medical equipment at home that needs an electricity supply please contact your medical adviser.

Thank you for your patience at this time.

• You can prepare for these possible disconnections by:
• Having a battery powered radio tuned into a local radio station
• Keeping a torch handy (safer than candles) and a blanket near you

And, if your power supply is interrupted:

• Switch off all electrical appliances
• Leave a light on so you know when power is restored
• Use alternative forms of lighting or heating safely
• Wrap up, keep one room warm and stay in it

To help reduce the need for these disconnections we also ask that you follow these energy saving tips:
Remember to turn off lights when you leave a room

• Switch off your TV, video and Hi-Fi at the set. On standby they can use as much as 80% of the electricity they use when switched on
• Avoid over filling the kettle but be sure to cover the element
• Use low energy light bulbs wherever you can as they use 20% of the electricity used by ordinary light bulbs
• Wait until you have a full load before using your washing machine
• Put draught strips around windows and outside doors

ENDS