Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution is moving to Weather Warning status in central southern England ahead of a period of severe weather which is forecast for Sunday night (21st January) and into the early hours of Monday morning.

Our current weather model shows a low-pressure system, which is expected to bring high winds, with gusts of between 55-60mph expected across much of central southern England.

We are now activating our well-rehearsed contingency plans and bringing in additional teams to deal with any damage to the network and subsequent faults, which may interrupt customers’ power supplies. 

We will continue to monitor this storm closely as it develops, and we will issue further updates depending on the forecast.   

The same weather system that is bringing this unsettled period of weather to central southern England is also forecast to hit our north of Scotland distribution area; we are also monitoring the potential impact this may have on our network there closely.

If you see any damage to our equipment, please stay back, don’t touch it and instead report it to us directly by calling 105, or via our Power Track website, and engineers will investigate as soon as possible.

Customers are also being encouraged to be prepared for the possibility of disruption to supplies by:

  • Saving the emergency power cut number - '105' - to your phone to report any loss of supply or damage to the electricity network
  • Visiting our Power Track Website to give you details of power cuts and restoration times. You can also report power cuts and network damage through Power Track.
  • Visiting the "Preparing for a power cut" section on our website, where there is a wealth of advice and information, or to chat live to one of our advisors via the Webchat service

Customers are also eligible for our 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.

How to get prepared

In preparation for any potential power cuts, we are encouraging our customers to save the emergency power cut number 105 and to follow us on Facebook and Twitter (ssencommunity) for regular updates.

  • Register for extra support during a power cut

    Priority Services Register

    We all rely on electricity day to day for various things, but for some, a power cut can be worrying or difficult. That’s why we offer extra help and support during a power cut. Registering for our Priority Services helps us to help you when you need it most. All our priority services are free.
  • View our tips and advice to help you during a power cut

    Preparing for a power cut

    With bad weather on the way, we've put together some helpful tips and advice to help you during a power cut. You can also download our useful resources to share with your family and neighbours.
  • Report a power cut or damage to our network through our map

    Power Track

    You can stay updated and track the progress of any faults in your area on our Power Track map or report damage to our network. You can also follow the progress of planned interruptions as well as find the nearest EV charge point if you have an electric vehicle that needs charging during a power cut.