Major incident declared
As some of you will know, I have been on standby to send in extra national help for Northumberland County Council for their work in the non-electrical repairs. (National support from across the UK has already been in place all week for the electrical engineering repairs and reconnections).
This formal request has to come from the Council itself, and today NCC formally made that request. As a result, we can now send in military personnel to assist them with their ongoing work.
Ofgem
The energy regulator Ofgem has agreed to our requests to remove the current cap on compensation for those still without power. This means that the customers most affected could receive up to £140 a day for each day they’re off power until power is restored.
The regulator has also announced a review into Storm Arwen. The review will focus on the role of the network companies in maintaining the resilience of the system and their emergency response, including communication with customers. As part of this review, Ofgem will establish the facts and, if necessary, will pursue further enforcement action.
This will be vital in ensuring lessons are learned for future catastrophic weather events.
Welfare
Project teams comprising Northern Powergrid, Local Resilience Forums, Northumberland County Council and emergency services have been deployed to areas still impacted focusing on visiting all those off supply to provide information and signpost them to support and welfare measures in place.
If you are worried about friends and family, please ask them to get in touch either with Northumberland County Council or with my team. We can arrange a welfare check. If you are not sure if your neighbour needs help, please go and check on them if you can.
You can contact NCC via:
Contact Centre (for general queries): 0345 6006400
Northumberland Communities Together (for anyone struggling with food supplies or other essentials) Mon-Fri 9am - 6pm: 01670 620015
One Call (for concerns about vulnerable residents or safeguarding issues): 01670 536400
Community Hubs
A number of Community Hubs are currently in operation across the affected areas for people needing support after Storm Arwen.
The below list which also describes the offers, is accurate as of 2.30pm 2 Dec:
Rothbury – Jubilee Hall – hot food / warmth / phone charging
Wooler – Angel Inn – hot food / warmth / phone charging
Berwick – Leisure Centre - showers
Belford - NPG Welfare Van deployed (NE70 7NF)
Longhoughton – Community Centre – hot food / showers / warmth / charging
Ulgham – Women's Institute – hot food / drink / warmth / phone charging
Longhorsley - Village Hall - hot food / warmth / phone charging
Alternative accommodation and food
If you are not able to stay with a family member or friend PLEASE take advantage of the reimbursement offer form Northern Powergid as below:
If any customer is without power and is unable to make alternative arrangements to stay with family or a friend, Northern Powergrid will reimburse all reasonable costs for alternative accommodation:
- Customers who can coordinate this themselves are encouraged to do so, being asked to keep receipts and to send details of costs incurred to Northern Powergrid’s dedicated email address [email protected]
- Anyone who may need support in arranging alternative accommodation should call the 105 power cut number
Customers can also continue to access Northern Powergrid’s welfare facilities for free hot food and drinks, as well as claim the cost of takeaways or meals from local establishments, up to £15 per person per meal. Other reasonable costs incurred by customers impacted by Storm Arwen will also be considered and customers are asked to retain their receipts in order to obtain reimbursement.
Scottish Power
Scottish Power tell me ALL their customers are now reconnected.
If you are a Scottish Power customer, and you have not been reconnected, please call them on 105 or 0800 092 9290.