News reports located on this page = 2.
SP Energy Network is keeping the electricity flowing throughout the COVID-19 crisis
SP Energy
Networks has revealed contingency plans to ensure homes and businesses in
Southport and the rest of the Liverpool City Region, maintain their electricity
supply throughout the Coronavirus crisis.
The plans being implemented by the electricity distributor also introduce
special measures to protect supply for critical national infrastructure and
public service sites; including:- Hospitals, Nursing Homes, food supply chain
businesses, Ministry of Defence sites and prisons.
The UK has one of the most reliable electricity networks in the world and
contingency plans developed by SP Energy Networks alongside other network
operators, Government and electricity regulator Ofgem will ensure power
continues to flow throughout the coronavirus crisis.
Other major changes that SP Energy Networks is putting in place include:-
► Rapid installation of new connections that will
support the containment of COVID-19 including connections for:- Hospitals, Care
Homes, Nursing Homes, water treatment works and food supply chain business.
► A commitment to continue any critical maintenance
and repair work that secures the resilience of the electricity network in the
short and medium term to keep the power flowing; prioritising power cuts and
urgent safety issues.
► Postponement or cancellation of new network upgrade
projects that involve planned interruption of power for customers; unless it
assists the restoration of power supply or if not conducting the work poses a
danger to the public/ staff/ contactors or it supports short or medium term
resilience requirements.
► Deployment of teams to undertake connections
projects that will provide additional resilience to the local or national
electricity network; such as additional generation capacity to provide more
electricity where it is needed.
These changes will be implemented with immediate effect for SP Energy Network's
3.5million customers across Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales, North Shropshire,
and Central and Southern Scotland.
As a critical operational business, SP Energy Networks has already established
social distancing measures and rolled out additional processes for critical
frontline operational staff and control centre teams who cannot undertake their
key roles from home to ensure they can maintain operations in the event of a
localised outbreak of Coronavirus.
Frank Mitchell, CEO of SP Energy Networks said:- "We have 1 of the most
reliable energy networks in the world and our top priority throughout the
COVID-19 crisis will be to keep the power flowing for our customers in Southport
while ensuring critical national infrastructure sites receive the electricity
supply they need. We've already put huge changes in place to keep our staff safe
and redeployed them on priority projects that will support the UK's national
effort to tackle the Coronavirus. If you see us outside your home or we visit
your property during the Coronavirus emergency, please be assured we are there
because it is critical. It's absolutely essential our network holds up against
storms and high winds so our teams are working to maintain and strengthen the
resilience of the network we all rely on to take us through this storm season
and beyond. We know that now, more than ever you are relying on us to keep you
safe and warm by ensuring the power continues to flow and we are committed to
doing just that."
Customers who have received a letter from the NHS advising them that they are:-
'at risk' and should take additional measures to protect themselves from
COVID-19 are being advised to sign up for the Priority Services Register. This
provides free additional services to customers in vulnerable circumstances if
there is an unexpected power cut. They should sign up at:-
SPEnergyNetworks.Co.U or text:- 'PSR' to:- 61999.
In the event of a power cut, customers should call the:- 'National Power
105 Hotline' no matter who they pay their bill to.
Councils will be facing a 'tide wave of waste' over rubbish collections after the lockdown
THE District
Councils' Network has concerns that a:- "wave of waste" will
emerge from households in the coming weeks, as families generate more waste and
recycling while rightly staying safe at home and in some cases, as a result of
having stocked up with food and other goods they need.
It wants residents to work with their Local Council to best manage bin
collections.
This coincides with some Councils having to reduce certain waste services, such
as garden waste collections, as a result of many waste collection staff needing
to self isolate or to recover from illness.
In some cases, Councils have also closed recycling centres as part of social
distancing measures to discourage non-essential travel.
DCN, which represents 191 district Councils in England that are responsible for
collecting waste, is calling on residents to work with their Local Council to
manage:- "a perfect storm" of growing levels of rubbish coinciding
with challenges for Councils in collecting it.
It says that while many will be using the current period as an opportunity to
spring clean their home or do some gardening, residents are asked to be mindful
of how and where they dispose of their waste.
Around the country waste collectors have been inundated with positive messages
of support from communities as they go about collecting household waste.
District Councils are now advising households to consider how they can store
waste or arrange for it to be safely collected during the current restrictions,
and is issuing the following guidance to residents:-
► Contact your Council to see if they are still
operating paid for bulky waste collection.
► Private companies offer this as well but people need
to check any company they use is properly registered for handling waste by the
Environment Agency.
► Try and compost any garden waste at home.
► Cut down cardboard boxes so they can be put into the
appropriate recycling bin; this makes life much easier for waste collection
staff.
► Store any excess waste from DIY projects, spring
cleans or garden waste at home until it can be disposed of safely and legally.
DCN is also urging residents against burning rubbish on bonfires, especially
hazardous waste, following a spate of incidents across the country that
contribute to air pollution and disturbance for neighbours who may be self
isolating.
Cllr Dan Humphreys, DCN Lead Member for Enhancing Quality of Life, said:-
"These are challenging times for everyone in the country right now, and all of
our public services are being overstretched as a result of the Coronavirus
crisis. While most of the nation is quite rightly in isolation, and able to work
from home, our refuse collectors continue to go out to empty people's bins and
dispose of their waste. Alongside many other frontline services, the efforts of
our waste collection staff should be applauded, as they are playing a key role
in helping to keep the country running during this difficult period. Make no
mistake, Councils and their contractors have plans in place to try and ensure
that everyone's bins are collected. But we would ask the public to play their
part, too. Where possible we would ask residents to think twice about how much
waste is put out; such a small step could make a huge difference. With millions
safely staying at home, many producing more waste than normal, and a risk that
our waste collection workforce suffers staff shortages, we have to be careful
and prepared to manage a potential wave of waste. Councils are doing all they
can, and we want to thank the public for helping us during this tricky period."