Latest update on Storm Éowyn

Update at 17.30, Friday 24 January 2025. 

• Storm Éowyn has continued to bring strong winds across our region throughout today, causing severe damage to our network.   
• We are now approaching 120,000 customers having been affected so far, with the North East impacted most, with wind speeds reaching 96mph in the Northumberland area.  
• Despite the challenging conditions our teams responded and have managed to reconnect around half of those customers of those who have been impacted. 
• Our priority is now to reconnect the remaining 60,000 customers without power. Our teams will continue to work throughout the weekend to get customers’ power back on as quickly as possible, however we expect some customers in the North East to be without power throughout the weekend.
• For our customers in Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire, we expect to get the majority of customers back on this evening, with the remainder being restored tomorrow.  
• We expect to have an update on when power will be back on for the customers in the North East during Saturday morning.  
• For those affected into tomorrow, additional support by way of reimbursing costs for essentials such as hot food.  
• We are proactively contacting those who are still without power and will keep customers updated regularly via text message, our website and on our social media channels.  
• Customer support vehicles have been stationed in communities which have been most affected and welfare support arrangements are being coordinated to support customers.  

Storm Éowyn has continued to bring strong winds across the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire from the early hours of Friday evening, with windspeeds reaching 96mph in Northumberland, causing widespread disruption to our network.  Whilst our teams have worked hard throughout the day in very challenging conditions, 60,000 customers remain without power. Our priority is to work as quickly as we can to get those customers back on.  

Due to the challenging conditions and strong winds, our teams have been restricted in the repairs they can carry out. Our teams are now able to assess the damage and give customers the best estimate of when their power is likely to be back on. However, it is likely our teams we will be working through the weekend to get all affected customers’ power back on, and some customers in the North East will be without power throughout the weekend. We will update these customers tomorrow morning (Saturday 25th January).   

We know how difficult it can be during a power cut, and our teams are working to get power back on and fix the issues as quicky as possible. Our Warm Hubs can offer a place for warmth and hot meals. We apologise to those customers who may be without power throughout the evening and into the weekend. We will do everything we can to get those people who have been without power for longest back on as soon as possible. 

Our 24/7 teams are still on hand to answer customer calls and our customer support vehicles and welfare partners are  in some of the worst hit areas to offer help on the ground to those who need it most. These will be very visible with Northern Powergrid branding, hot drinks and phone charging points are available.  

Northern Powergrid’s Director of Customer Services, Louise Lowes, said: “Whilst we have not been as severely impacted as other parts of the UK, Storm Éowyn has caused substantial damage to our network. Our teams were ready to respond and despite the tough conditions, have made good progress. Teams from across Northern Powergrid have been drafted in to support, including being out in our communities, checking in on our Priority Service members, providing hot water and ensuring our customers are being as looked after, whilst we work to get the power back on.”  

“Despite the challenging conditions, we’ve managed to get power back on for around half of the customers affected and our focus now is on those who remain without power. We will keep working until all customers are back on, but unfortunately some customers will be without power overnight and, in some cases, through some or all of the weekend. We will do everything we can to support these customers, and if you need any additional help please get in touch. We can look to reimburse costs for essentials up to the value of £30 and help to get hot food to those who remain without power through Saturday.” 

“We thank our customers for their patience. We're doing all we can to provide updates about when we will be able to get their power safely back on.” 

If you have been impacted by a power cut and you have not yet heard from us, please call 105 or use our website to report online: www.northernpowergrid.com/power-cuts.   

Information for customers without power for more than 24-hours: 

Reasonable costs of up to £30 per household will also be payable to customers after the first 24 hours off supply. Reasonable costs are for discretionary items including food. Where customers are unable to self-serve, we will provide support via our on-site support teams, deployed welfare support or customers can contact us on 105 and we will arrange to provide some hot food wherever possible. 

Please send details of your claim to [email protected]. 

If you spot any fallen trees on our power lines, poles or damaged cables due to the strong winds, stay well clear and call 105 immediately.