#OurLockdownStory: our fast response in lockdown kept thousands of customers safely on gas over a long bank holiday weekend

#ourlockdownstory

With more people staying at home than ever before, keeping the gas flowing through lockdown has been as important as ever for Cadent.  

Across the Cadent network, our engineers have been working day and night to safeguard the gas supply, to ensure that in this challenging time the 11 million homes and businesses which rely on our network for heating and cooking continue to be safe and warm. 

Our emergency work can come in at any time. We have teams on standby to respond quickly, 24/7, 365 days year, as these two examples from our East of England network reveal.

Two outside gas escapes - fixed 

Cast your mind back to Thursday 9 April, the day before Good Friday. 

Two outside gas escapes reported late in the afternoon saw our engineers dispatched to make our network safe and to ensure our customers had gas for the bank holiday weekend. 

Upon arrival we discovered one affected customer was a doctor who was self-isolating because of COVID-19. The other gas escape required a complex piece of engineering involving 10 rooms at a B&B. 

Our engineers worked tirelessly, well after their shifts were due to finish, to ensure every customer was back on gas for the weekend – all whilst respecting social distancing guidelines. 

Problem with gas pressures – fixed 

On the same day, in another part of the East network, our control centre alerted Cadent’s Operate and Maintain team at 2.30am to an unexplained pressure fluctuation in part of our network. 

Investigations showed an equipment malfunction, which needed an emergency repair to ensure the reliability and safety of the gas supply was maintained. 

Colleagues from across Cadent’s East network converged – and some of the first people on site where two engineers who were supposed to be on holiday. 

After a challenging day of skilled engineering work, our network was functioning normally again and everyone who relies on the Cadent network was able to heat and cook in their homes over the bank holiday weekend. 

Above and beyond 

Cadent East Network Director Darren Elsom commented: 

“The stories here are just a couple of illustrations of the brilliant work our engineers deliver day-in, day-out. I’m incredibly proud of all of our gas heroes – our staff who every day go above and beyond to make sure our customers continue to enjoy a safe and reliable gas supply.” 

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.

Media contacts

Ben Green

Ben.Green1@cadentgas.com

07773 122925