Advice to help gas customers #BeWinterReady

Nov 2 2017 safety

9.5m people in Britain say they don't carry out basic winter preparations as the colder weather rolls in

Over half don't have a torch in case of a power cut and over 70% don't get their boiler serviced in advance of winter
UK's gas and electricity companies launch awareness campaign with three steps to Be Winter Ready
9.5 million people across Great Britain admit they don’t carry out basic winter preparations as the colder weather rolls in.

The figures have been released to coincide with Be Winter Ready Day – a new initiative spearheaded by the country’s electricity and gas networks, which aims to help the public be better-prepared if they have a power cut or gas emergency this winter.

The survey found that 59 per cent of people think the reliability of the gas and electricity networks means they don’t have to prepare for winter as much as they used to. Over half don’t keep a torch in their house in case of a power cut and 71 per cent don’t take steps to get their boiler serviced in advance of winter.

Furthermore, 72 per cent don’t know who their local gas or electricity network operators are, with only 21 per cent saying they prepare themselves for winter by finding out who to contact if their gas or electricity goes off.

The energy networks are calling on the public to follow these three steps to Be Winter Ready:
- Know your free emergency numbers - in a power cut dial 105 or, for a gas emergency, dial 0800 111999.
- Prepare your home - keep a torch handy and get your appliances serviced by a Gas Safe registered engineer to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Vulnerable households can get extra support by signing up to the Priority Services Register. Visit www.energynetworks.org to find out who your network operator is.
- Keep your eyes open - keep an eye on the weather forecast and, if you have a power cut or a gas emergency, check on your neighbours.
On the rare occasion power is interrupted or a gas emergency happens, Cadent and the other energy networks have engineers working around the clock to restore supplies safely and as quickly as possible, keeping customers regularly updated on the progress.

Ed Syson, Director of Operations at Cadent, said: “At Cadent we work hard all through the year maintaining more than 130,000km of pipes and other gas infrastructure under our feet to make sure we have heat for our homes when we need it.

"Regular servicing of your boiler and other appliances not only means they are more likely to work when you need them, but critically helps to keep us all safe from the risks of carbon monoxide.

"An annual gas safety check is important and getting this done before winter sets in means you will be well prepared.

"Always remember too, if you smell gas, call our emergency number immediately – 0800 111 999 – and we’ll make sure everything is safe.”

David Smith, Chief Executive of Energy Networks Association, said: “In recent years the chances of unplanned problems with electricity and gas supply have reduced dramatically. Since 1990, network companies have invested £80bn in improving the reliability of local energy networks in the UK. On average, electricity customers have a power cut just once every two years and gas customers will have their gas supply interrupted just once every 40 years.

“However, as the nights get colder and darker, the chances of severe weather increase. Storms, floods and other extreme conditions can sometimes cause damage to the electricity network and disrupt the energy supply. That’s why we are calling on the public to Be Winter Ready and make sure they are prepared in case they have a power cut or gas emergency.”

Our Be Winter Ready page has more information. Follow #BeWinterReady on social media.

Cadent

Cadent is the UK’s largest gas distribution network with a 200-year legacy. We are in a unique position to build on strong foundations whilst encouraging the curiosity to think differently and the courage to embrace change. Day to day we continue to operate, maintain and innovate the UK’s largest gas network, transporting gas safely and protecting people in an emergency. Our skilled engineers and specialists remain committed to the communities we serve, working day and night to ensure gas reaches 11 million homes from Cumbria to North London and the Welsh Borders to East Anglia, to keep your energy flowing.

Future of Gas: Here at Cadent we support the Government’s plans to reach Net Zero by 2050. That means we’re backing the introduction of hydrogen as a low carbon alternative to natural gas for the future. We know people love the controllability of gas and, with our network already in place, it makes sense to switch to the lower carbon alternative offered by hydrogen, which we believe can keep homes and businesses warm for generations to come.

Cadent manages the national gas emergency service free phone line on behalf of the gas industry - 0800 111 999*

Cadent Gas Ltd is owned by a consortium of global investors.

*All calls are recorded and may be monitored.