27 July 2004 00:00 New freephone emergency number for Central Networks in the West

Central Networks, the electricity distribution business for the Midlands, is launching a new freephone emergency number for its 2.4m customers in the West Midlands.

The company, formed by the merger of East Midlands Electricity and Midlands Electricity earlier this year, already operates an 0800 number in the East Midlands and is to expand its freephone service to the West from August 1.

The old 08457 331331 service will continue to operate for at least 12 months while people get used to the new 0800 328 1111 number.

Phil Wilson, Customer Operations Manager with Central Networks, said: “Clearly if people have a problem they should be able to contact us free of charge and that is precisely what this change will achieve.

“This move will also help us to improve service for all of our customers and is another example of the benefits brought about by the merger of the distribution businesses for the East and West Midlands.

“We hope that our customers will see the benefits pretty quickly and we will be looking to make further upgrades to our telephone handling systems in the coming months.”

The 0800 328 1111 number will cover the western parts of Staffordshire, the West Midlands, the south west of Warwickshire, northern parts of Oxfordshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and the outskirts of Bristol.

Ends

Notes to editors:
•Central Networks is the new name for Midlands Electricity and East Midlands Electricity. The company brings power to 4.8 million customers across the East and West Midlands through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables and via almost 97,000 substations;
•Central Networks covers an area from the Peak District in the north to the suburbs of Bristol in the south, and from the Welsh Borders to the Lincolnshire Coast.

For more information contact:
Jonathan Smith on 024 7642 5741
Out of hours call 024 7642 4000 and ask to speak to the duty press officer