10 July 2006 00:00 Central Networks issues urgent safety message after thieves damage overhead lines and substation in Lincolnshire

Central Networks, the electricity distribution company for central England, is sending out an urgent safety message after two separate incidents in Lincolnshire in which damage caused by thieves resulted in power cuts.

Central Networks engineers responded to an emergency call in Nettleham, where they discovered that eight stands of copper neutral wiring had been cut down from the overhead lines. The removal of the neutral wiring caused power surges in five homes, resulting in some fire damage.

Central Networks, which is part of E.ON UK, has been liaising with Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue and is currently carrying out full safety checks on the affected houses. Customers in all five houses have been contacted.

Thieves have also broken into a substation in Lincoln and cut and removed most of the copper earth tape. Engineers had to turn off supply for 968 customers for 61 minutes while temporary earth straps were fitted.

Lincolnshire police have been advised of the incident. Copper earthing tape has been stolen from the same substation on a previous occasion.

Members of the general public who see individuals engaged in suspicious behaviour around overhead power lines or electricity substations are advised to call the police immediately.

Ends

Notes to editors:
• Central Networks is the new name for Midlands Electricity and East Midlands Electricity. The company brings power to 4.9 million customers across Central England through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables – enough to go round the Earth almost four times – and via almost 97,000 substations;
• Central Networks covers an area from the Peak District in the north to parts of Bristol in the south, and from the Welsh Borders to the Lincolnshire Coast.

For further information contact:
Jamee Majid on 024 7642 5011