Millom Without Parish Council

Articles – Millom Without

Community Plan

We wanted to extend our thanks to the residents of The Hill who attended a recent drop in to discuss their ideas for the next Community Plan. We also welcomed the opportunity to share some information on emerging projects and listen to feedback, as we move forward in developing the next Community Plan.

Millom Without Parish Council recently set up a meeting with representatives from Electricity Northwest (ENWL), who are responsible for the transmission of electricity to our homes and businesses within the Millom Without Parish.

The Parish Council were keen to hear of the steps being taken by ENWL to enhance the reliability of our network and ENWL have kindly provided a summary of the actions they are taking:

Preparing for winter: Electricity North West’s commitment to Cumbria

As winter approaches, Electricity North West is taking significant steps to ensure the resilience and reliability of our power network in Cumbria. Our dedicated teams work tirelessly to prepare for the challenges that winter weather can bring, focusing on key areas such as tree cutting and substantial investments in the network.

While the network is resilient, we know that storms can affect the overhead line network in particular which is more exposed to tree branches and flying debris during high winds, and also snow and ice.

Tree cutting and maintenance

One of our primary initiatives is an extensive tree-cutting program. Trees and branches can cause significant damage to overhead power lines during storms, leading to power cuts. Our in-house tree teams work year-round to trim trees near power lines, reducing the risk of outages. This proactive approach has already seen the vast majority of identified spans (distance between poles) have trees cut back, enhancing the reliability of our network.

Investing in the network

We are also investing heavily in the infrastructure to improve reliability and resilience. By 2028, we’ll invest millions in various projects across Cumbria, including:

• £20 million to improve reliability for customers with the poorest service.
• £35 million for storm resilience, particularly in areas like Alston and Coniston.
• £9 million to replace over 200 small rural substations.
• £5 million to underground visually intrusive overhead lines.

These investments will help us respond more effectively to incidents and minimize the impact of power cuts.

Customer preparedness and support

We encourage all customers to prepare for potential power cuts by having an emergency kit ready, including items like torches, batteries, and non-perishable food. Additionally, we urge eligible customers to sign up for our free Extra Care Register. This service provides additional support during power cuts, such as priority updates and assistance with essential needs.

At Electricity North West, we are committed to supporting our community. We care deeply about the well-being of our customers and are here to help you stay safe and connected this winter. For more information or to sign up for the Extra Care Register, visit www.enwl.co.uk/ExtraCare or call us on 105.

If you have a power cut, remember to let us know, so we can keep you updated. Don’t leave it to someone else. Also, if you see damaged lines or equipment, call us immediately on 105 or if there’s a danger to life, call 999.

Stay prepared, stay safe, and remember that Electricity North West is here to support you through the winter months.