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09/05/2003
Over 2,000 electricity customers affected by gales
Over 2,000 homes were left without electricity this week after gale force winds caused a number of faults to the electricity network across Northern Ireland.
NIE said tha damage caused by flying debris and the high winds included broken electricity lines and damage to poles and other equipment.
NIE spokesperson Robin Greer said: “We had been monitoring the worsening weather conditions closely so we were in position to get customers back on supply as quickly as possible and to keep customers regularly updated and informed."
Additional NIE staff were in place at night in readiness to deal with problems produced by the bad weather.
He added: "Most customers may not even be aware that their electricity was off, as the interruptions began late in the evening and we had most customers back on overnight.
“We have invested heavily in our service in the last few year and our systems have been thoroughly tested, but we have to recognise the reality that Northern Ireland has a widely dispersed population and therefore the sort of rural network that is vulnerable to severe conditions, whether it be high winds, snow, ice or lightning.”
Four main faults occurred affecting a total of 2,262 customers in Downpatrick, Ballycastle, Waterfoot and also Portadown at various times.
But for the vast majority of customers, power was restored within a few hours, though some 200 households in Ballycastle had to wait until the next morning for supply to be restored.
(MB)
NIE said tha damage caused by flying debris and the high winds included broken electricity lines and damage to poles and other equipment.
NIE spokesperson Robin Greer said: “We had been monitoring the worsening weather conditions closely so we were in position to get customers back on supply as quickly as possible and to keep customers regularly updated and informed."
Additional NIE staff were in place at night in readiness to deal with problems produced by the bad weather.
He added: "Most customers may not even be aware that their electricity was off, as the interruptions began late in the evening and we had most customers back on overnight.
“We have invested heavily in our service in the last few year and our systems have been thoroughly tested, but we have to recognise the reality that Northern Ireland has a widely dispersed population and therefore the sort of rural network that is vulnerable to severe conditions, whether it be high winds, snow, ice or lightning.”
Four main faults occurred affecting a total of 2,262 customers in Downpatrick, Ballycastle, Waterfoot and also Portadown at various times.
But for the vast majority of customers, power was restored within a few hours, though some 200 households in Ballycastle had to wait until the next morning for supply to be restored.
(MB)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:The day will be very windy with strong to gale force westerly winds becoming occasionally severe along the north coast. Sunny spells will be interspersed with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
