With Storms Austen and Boelo now behind us, we’re pleased that the Caersws community appears to have experienced little or no disruption, despite the challenging weather conditions.
As we head further into autumn and winter, it’s a timely reminder that a little preparation can make a difference if we experience a power cut.
Caersws Community Council recently attended a Winter Preparedness webinar hosted by SP Energy Networks (SPEN), where some very useful information was shared about the support available to residents.
We thought this would be a good opportunity to pass on some of that advice, particularly details of the ๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ, which many residents may be eligible for without realising it.
๐ ๐ฃ๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ฅ โ ๐๐ข๐จ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ ๐ค๐จ๐๐๐๐๐ฌ?
SP Energy Networks operates a FREE Priority Services Register (PSR) for people who may need additional help during a power cut.
The eligibility criteria are broader than many people realise.
You may qualify if you:
โ Are aged 60 or over
โ Have a disability, restricted mobility or communication difficulties
โ Have a long-term or chronic health condition
โ Depend on electricity for medical equipment, such as oxygen concentrators or other essential devices
โ Have children under five years old living at home
โ Use electrically powered equipment such as a stairlift or medical bed
โ Are recovering from an operation or illness
โ Are pregnant, recently bereaved or experiencing temporary difficulties
โ Have other personal circumstances that mean you may need additional support during a power cut
๐ฌ๐ผ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐น๐ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ผ๐๐ ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ.
๐ค ๐ช๐๐๐ง ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฃ๐ฃ๐ข๐ฅ๐ง ๐๐ข๐จ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ฉ๐?
Depending on individual circumstances and the nature of the power cut, registered customers may benefit from:
โข Proactive telephone calls or text messages
โข Additional information and updates about restoration times
โข Access to a dedicated 24-hour priority contact number
โข Welfare checks where necessary
โข Practical assistance such as hot food, drinks or temporary accommodation during prolonged outages
โข Consideration of temporary electricity generation or battery support where appropriate
โข Additional assistance coordinated with local authorities and emergency response organisations
Registration does not guarantee faster restoration of electricity or specific assistance, but it helps SPEN identify and support customers who may need extra help.
๐ ๐๐ข๐ช ๐ง๐ข ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ฅ
Registration is FREE and straightforward.
๐ www.spenergynetworks.co.uk/psr
๐ 0330 10 10 167
If you have a family member, friend or neighbour who might qualify, please encourage them to register. You can also help someone who may find it difficult to register themselves.
๐ฆ ๐ ๐๐๐ช ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ฆ ๐ง๐ข ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐๐
A little preparation can make things easier if you experience a power cut this winter.
๐ฆ Keep a torch somewhere handy, with spare batteries.
๐ Keep your mobile phone charged and consider having a power bank available.
๐งฃ Have some warm clothing and blankets nearby in case your heating is temporarily interrupted.
๐ ๐ช๐๐๐ง ๐ง๐ข ๐๐ข ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ช๐๐ฅ
โก Call 105 โ FREE, 24 hours a day, regardless of your electricity supplier.
๐ You can also check or report a power cut using your postcode:
https://powercuts.spenergynetworks.co.uk
The website provides information about known outages and estimated restoration times where available.
You can also find updates and advice on the SP Energy Networks Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/SPEnergyNetworks
If you see damaged electricity cables or fallen power lines, please keep well away and report them by calling 105. If there is an immediate danger to life, call 999.
โค๏ธ ๐๐ข๐ข๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐ข๐จ๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ก๐๐ง๐ฌ
One of the most important things we can do as a community is look out for one another.
If there is a power cut, please consider checking on neighbours, particularly those who live alone, are elderly or may need a little extra assistance.
Even a quick telephone call or knock on the door can make a real difference.
We would especially encourage residents to share the Priority Services Register information with relatives, friends and neighbours who may not use Facebook or the internet.
For further information and advice, visit:
๐ https://www.spenergynetworks.co.uk/
