Electricity NW ploughs £132m into preparation for bad winter

ELECTRICITY North West says it has invested £132m in the last 12 moths upgrading and strengthening overhead powerlines, electricity substations and underground cables ready for severe weather this winter.

The work, which will benefit more than five million customers from rural Cumbria to urban Manchester, includes £20m in upgrading 10,000 electricity poles, 635 pylons and 191km of overhead power lines; and £3.7m on cutting back trees that pose a risk to 1,891km of power lines.

Electricity North West chief executive Steve Johnson said: “Thankfully for most people power cuts are very rare, but they can have a big impact – particularly if you’re not prepared.

“Severe weather can damage the network and cause power cuts which is why we have been working hard over the past year investing and preparing for this winter.

“We’re supporting the Government’s Get Ready for Winter campaign by investing in our network, and by asking customers to think about what they’d do if they had a power cut this winter.

“Simple things like keeping a torch handy and making a note of our phone number can make a real difference.”