04 August 2004 00:00 Central Networks engineers return 105,000 customers to power after lightning storms

Engineers from Central Networks, the electricity distribution company for the East and West Midlands, continue to work to restore power to all customers affected by yesterday’s storms.

As at 1600hrs today (AUG 4) there were still around 1,600 customers without power, with a total of 107,000 affected at one time or another in the West Midlands during the lightning storms that hit the region.

Jim Lightfoot, Customer and Network Operations Director at Central Networks, said: “Our engineers have been working hard and have successfully restored power to more than 105,000 customers who were affected by some of the 23,000 lightning strikes we had in the West Midlands yesterday.

“We’re still working hard to get those last few customers back on and we’ll obviously be working round the clock until everyone has power again.

“It was a particularly violent storm in terms of lightning hits, especially if you live in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.”
Central Networks despatched its Customer Support Vehicle to Inkberrow, Worcestershire earlier today to provide a point of contact to customers there. The village has now been largely restored to power.

The storm first hit the region at around 1600hrs yesterday (TUES) and reached its height at around 1900hrs.

Ends

Notes to editors:
Customers affected at 1600hrs:
Gloucestershire 130
Shropshire 242
Staffordshire 151
Warwickshire 110
West Midlands 145
Worcestershire/Herefordshire 857

For more information contact:
Jonathan Smith on 024 7642 5741
Out of hours ring 024 7642 4000 and ask to speak to the Duty Press Officer