Essential works continue during coronavirus outbreak

During the current coronavirus outbreak, we are only carrying out essential work. This is to ensure the health and safety of field staff as they work to keep the electricity flowing.

WPD is:

• Responding to power cuts – staff will continue to respond to emergency, unplanned power cuts and do everything they can to restore power as quickly and safely as possible. Although as many of our employees as possible are working from home they are still available and will still respond.
• Responding to safety issues – while coronavirus is creating huge changes, one thing that has not changed is that our network is still dangerous for anyone who does not have the proper training and protective equipment. If you spot a dangerous situation please call 105. During this time WPD will only respond to street light faults if there is a public safety issue.
• Carrying out vital inspections and maintenance to ensure the safety of the network – inspections to ensure the safety of the network will continue as will maintenance where staff do not have to enter customers’ premises. In all circumstances we will try to avoid taking customers off supply.
• Carrying out critical connections work that supports key services such as the NHS and care homes, food production and sale, and telecoms and broadband.

Operations Director Graham Halladay said: “I would like to reassure customers that if they see us working outside or if we have to enter their homes it is solely because it is essential to ensure you have a safe and secure electricity supply.

“To keep your lights on we have to keep going and I would like to thank staff for their dedication and hard work. We have already taken a number of steps to minimise risk and we are constantly reviewing the situation and looking for ways to do more.”

Steps taken so far include: procuring thousands of laptops to enable employees to work from home where possible and sourcing and procuring personal protective equipment (PPE).

Graham added: “We will continue to keep the network operational while much of the country is in isolation. The electricity network is extremely robust and years of significant investment means that we have a resilient, reliable, smart grid to rely upon during these times. When power cuts do occur, I can promise customers that we will do everything we can to get the lights back on as quickly as possible.”