Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has restored electricity supply to more than 20,000 customers since yesterday afternoon as heavy rain and winds gusts of over 50mph impacted the electricity network in central southern England.

Disruption to the overhead line network has affected areas such as Uxbridge, parts of Oxford, Slough, parts of Reading and pockets of rural Hampshire amongst the areas affected.

As of 10am there are just over 7,000 customers across the SSEN network area without electricity and SSEN engineers are working in difficult weather conditions to safely repair damage to the network and restore supplies to customers.

With further rain and gusting winds expected throughout the morning and into the afternoon, SSEN is continuing to monitor the weather situation, ensuring that operational staff levels are as required to respond to further weather-related damage.

Craig Gilroy, SSEN's Director of Customer Operations, said: "We keep track of the weather situation several days in advance and were aware that this weather front was on its way. Ahead of its arrival we brought in extra operational staff to make sure that we could respond to any damage on our network as safely and as quickly as possible. Our engineers have worked through the night and, where it's safe to do so, will continue to work to get power supplies restored at the earliest opportunity. We have additional staff In our call centres and are making outbound calls to our customers on our Priority Services Register."

"We would like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding at this time, and for those who are without power, assure them that our teams will continue to do everything possible to restore their supplies as safely and as quickly as possible."

If you experience a power cut please call 105, the new national number for reporting power cuts and electricity emergencies.

SSEN is also encouraging customers to be prepared in the event of possible disruption to power supplies, by:

  • Saving the new emergency power cut number '105' to your phone to use if your power goes off, or if you see any damage to the electricity network.
  • Downloading SSEN's Power Track app to give you details of power cuts and restoration times.
  • Going to SSEN's website where there is a wealth of advice and information on how to prepare for a possible loss of power.
  • Following SSEN on Facebook and Twitter for regular updates

In the event of an interruption in power supplies, SSEN's customer service team will make outbound calls to customers on our Priority Service Register to offer extra assistance, where required. People can qualify for the PSR if they:

  • Are dependent on electricity for home medical care
  • Have a chronic illness or short term medical condition
  • Are disabled
  • Have special communication needs
  • Have achildunder the age of 5 or receive a state pension.

To find out more about the PSR, click here or call 0800 294 3259.