Being prepared can reduce the community impact of a power cut or gas emergency

Herefordshire Council is supporting a new campaign that urges people to be prepared for bad weather this winter and know what to do if they have a power cut or gas emergency.

The Be Winter Ready campaign has been launched by the UK’s gas and electricity networks. Since 1990, the networks have invested over £100bn to make the UK’s gas and electricity supply more reliable than ever before. However, storms, floods and other extreme conditions can sometimes cause significant damage and disruption.

To Be Winter Ready, the public are being urged to:

  • Know the free emergency numbers â€“ in a power cut dial 105 or, for a gas emergency, dial 0800 111999.
  • Prepare your home â€“ keep a torch handy and get your appliances serviced by a Gas Safe registered engineer to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Vulnerable households can get extra support by signing up to the Priority Services Register. Contact your gas or electricity network to find out more. Visit the Energy Networks Association website to find out who your network operator is.
  • Keep your eyes open â€“ keep an eye on the weather forecast and, if you have a power cut or a gas emergency, check on your neighbours.

More information about the campaign can be found on the Energy Networks Association website.