APPENDIX 13
Memorandum submitted by SEEBOARD plc
Although we were alert to the risk of escalating
network damage arising from the Boxing Day storms, and indeed
sustained damage to our networks causing loss of supplies to customers,
we did not regard the circumstances as exceptional and we did
not declare a SEEBOARD System Emergency.
However, in reaction to the weather forecasts
produced for us by the Metrological Office on Christmas Eve, we
arranged for additional volunteer personnel to be available on
standby (supplementing the standing arrangements for field operational
personnel) from dawn on Boxing day. Having overcome the fault
repair workload created by the poor weather of Saturday 26 and
Sunday 27 December, we were sufficiently well resourced to be
able to send 25 linesmen and technical supervisors to the Newcastle
area on Monday 28 December at the request of our NOSAC partner,
Northern Electricity plc.
With regard to the specific information you
have requested, we have already submitted similar information
to OFFER, and I detail below an extract of this information. I
believe that the information for the whole of the industry is
being collated by OFFER and so you may find it advantageous to
speak to OFFER to gain an industry perspective.
I have extracted from our report to OFFER the
information that you have requested and this is detailed below:
Number of Connected Customers = 2,126,000
| Number of customers off supply
|
|
|
| Date | Number off supply
due to storm damage
| Total number
off supply |
| | |
| | |
| 26 December | 4,298 | 4,770
|
| 27 December | 93 | 316
|
| 28 December | 0 | 406
|
| 29 December | 1 | 217
|
| 30 December | 0 | 9,730
|
| 31 December | 3 | 700
|
| Speed of restoration
|
|
|
| Length of time off supply | Number of customers
|
|
| |
| 0-3 hours | 15,017 |
| 3-6 hours | 808 |
| 6-12 hours | 232 |
| 12-18 hours | 78 |
| 18-24 hours | 3 |
| 24 hours + | 1 |
| Compensation to customers
|
|
| |
| Number |
|
| |
| GS2 payments | 0 |
| Ex-gratia payments | 151
|
|
| 1Only 1 for over 24 hours interruption (remainder 12-24 hrs interruption).
|
22 March 1999
|
