26/11/2003

Power cut hits 1,800 homes in Lurgan area

Over 1,800 homes in the Waringstown and Donaghcloney areas of Lurgan were left without power on Monday following severe damage to an underground high voltage electricity cable in the area.

The damage was caused by a building contractor working for developers at a new townhouse development adjacent to a nursing home on the Monree Road, Donaghcloney.

Northern Ireland Electricity engineers managed to restore power to the majority of homes within an hour.

Angelena Fusco, NIE Customer Relations Manager for the area, urged anyone working in the vicinity of underground cables to contact NIE prior to starting work.

“Luckily in this incident no-one was injured. With good working practices the number of faults of this sort could be radically reduced.

"It is NIE that people look to when their electricity goes off and we feel it is appropriate that the worst offenders are held up to account for the problems they cause for our customers and us.”

NIE advised any contractors to contact NIE on 08457 643 643 for marked up drawings of the underground electricity network before starting work.

(MB)

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