Cadent gas engineers clock up more miles than Santa…

Dec 19 2017 corporate in your area safety

Our engineers went to 38,768 emergency jobs about reported gas escapes last December

Cadent engineers will travel 2m miles this month to ensure you have gas on demand
Gas customers advised to get annual safety check to avoid problems as winter bites
If you smell gas, call the National Gas Emergency Service 0800 111 999 immediately

Engineers working for your gas emergency service Cadent are expected to clock up more miles than Santa to keep energy flowing through the festive season.

The man dressed in red and white will fly 1,440 miles from Lapland to Central London yet the red and white vans driven by Cadent’s engineers will cover up to two million miles across a footprint which takes in half the UK.

Cadent is the company which keeps gas flowing to 11 million homes and businesses that use grid gas for heating, cooking and power.

And it’s not just the engineers who will be keeping the Christmas holidays safely ticking over. Cadent also co-ordinates the National Gas Emergency Service, answering one call every 20 seconds (24/7, including on Christmas Day) to the national 0800 111 999 service.

If there’s an emergency in its network area – such as a suspected gas escape – the same team will arrange for a Cadent engineer to attend quickly.

Last December, the call handling team answered more than 38,000 calls from the East Anglia, North West, East Midlands, West Midlands and North London regions – with many calls coming in on Christmas Day itself.

John Duckworth, head of operations for Cadent in North West England and the West Midlands, said:

“We know we’re the last visitors you want to have in your house on Christmas Day, but it’s good for you to know that we’re there if you need us, if you smell gas or suspect a gas leak.

“The number to call if you smell gas or suspect a leak is 0800 111 999.

“To ensure your gas is working safely, it’s vital to have all your gas appliances – cookers, hobs, fires and boilers – checked and serviced by a qualified, Gas Safe registered engineer.

“This will give you peace of mind and ensure everything is working as it should when temperatures really start to bite over winter.

“Know the signs too of when your appliances aren’t working properly, including a lazy, yellow flame rather than a crisp blue one, and black marks around the appliance.

“Poorly maintained gas appliances can lead to problems with carbon monoxide poisoning which kills 40 people across the country each year and hospitalises another 4,000. Symptoms to look out for include headaches, dizziness, nausea and breathlessness.”

Cadent looks after a complex network of 80,000 miles of gas pipes running under roads and through fields of Eastern England, the Midlands, the North West and North London.

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.