Following the power outages last week I have sought additional clarity from UK Power Networks and the latest update on this is below.
In the instance of an emergency isolation, UK Power Networks will always endeavour to provide advanced noticed wherever possible. This isn’t always possible, as these are often carried out due to a safety concern, however I have been informed that their Customer Service teams did proactively notify all customers they hold contact details for via text message, providing around 30 minutes notice. In addition to this, a bespoke web page was designed to provide information to those customers. This is being updated with the latest information and can be accessed here: Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill (ukpowernetworks.co.uk)
At approximately 03:30 on Thursday 9 March, an unplanned power cut occurred, impacting several thousand properties in the Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill areas of the RH15, RH16, BN6 and surrounding postcode areas.
Engineers quickly and safely restored the power via switching which is a process that diverts power around the fault. While switching was being carried out remotely, engineers were also sent to the area to begin investigations into the cause of the outage.
Engineers identified a fault with the extra high voltage equipment within the Goddards Green electricity substation. I am told power was successfully restored to the area in stages within 25 minutes. During the morning UK Power Networks continued to investigate the cause of the outage and part of the investigation found some urgent safety-critical work that was required. This meant the power had to be turned off to several thousand properties at 10:00. UK Power Networks tried to notify customers in advance but unfortunately that was only possible for the customers they hold contact details for. You can sign up to receive future power cut alerts here.
Following the inspection, engineers began to restore electricity supplies to some properties in stages at 11:37 and all properties were turned back on by 13:03. Customers have to be restored in stages to help minimise any further potential unplanned outages by overloading these sections of the electricity network.
It was originally estimated that power would be back on between 11:30-12:30 however, unfortunately, engineers had to change the estimated time as they needed extra safety precautions in place.
On Sunday 12 March at 12:45, UK Power Networks were required to turn the power off again due to a safety incident impacting several thousand customers in the same area.
Engineers restored electricity via the switching process explained above after further inspections on the network. Power was initially estimated to be back on at 16:00 but unfortunately, due to the complex nature of the inspections engineers had to change the estimated time. Final customers were restored at 16:15.
UK Power Networks organised additional staff in our call centre on both of the occasions that your power was interrupted which helped us to deal with increased volumes of calls from customers. A small number of customers reported receiving text message updates in the wrong order or not receiving text messages at all during the outage. This was due to the local mobile masts also being without power.
I have been informed the decision to isolate supplies was not taken lightly. These decisions are made in the interest of safety and to ensure the reliability of supplies, preventing further unplanned power cuts. I am pleased to advise the teams are working hard on site and are on track to complete the permanent repair by the end of Friday 17 March.
I have asked for an update on Monday’s issues in Burgess Hill as this has not been covered in their current response and I will be meeting with UK Power Networks on this and other matters very shortly and I will update accordingly.