Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) is issuing a weather warning for customers across central southern England as strong winds are forecast for this evening and throughout Friday.

At 18:00 hours today, north east winds are expected to reach speeds of up 45mph inland and 50mph along coastal regions. This period of unsettled weather is expected to continue from the early hours of Friday 21 August and throughout the day.

In response, SSEN has enacted its well-established resilience plans. SSEN would like to reassure its customers that its teams are well resourced to respond to any disruption, with engineers ready to work to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.

In anticipation of the high winds over the next 24 hours, customers are being encouraged to prepare by:

  • Saving the emergency power cut number - 105 - to your phone to report any loss of supply or damage to the electricity network
  • Downloading SSEN's Power Track app to give you details of power cuts and restoration times. You can also report power cuts and network damage through the Power Track app
  • Going to SSEN's website where there is a wealth of advice and information on how to deal with a power cut, or to chat live to one of SSEN's advisors via its Webchat service
  • Following SSEN on Facebook and Twitter for regular updates

SSEN is urging people not to approach any damage to its equipment and instead, report it to SSEN by calling 105 or via its Power Track App and engineers will investigate as soon as possible.

Customers are also eligible for free, additional support from SSEN's Priority Services Register (PSR) if they:

  • Are deaf or hard of hearing
  • Have a disability
  • Live with children under five
  • Are blind or partially sighted
  • Have a chronic illness
  • Use medical equipment/aids reliant on electricity
  • Are over 60

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