£18.6 million invested to help protect power network from vegetation

Keeping overhead electricity networks clear of vegetation is crucial for reliability of power supplies for customers.

By the end of December, Northern Powergrid will have invested some £18.6 million this year on cutting back vegetation to help protect the region's power network.

The electricity network operator's annual programme to clear trees and foliage that have grown near the power network is part of Northern Powergrid’s winter preparations, which also includes foot patrols and aerial network inspections.

The clearance work helps reduce the chances of severe weather blowing vegetation into overhead power lines and causing damage and disruption for customers.

The programme which takes place throughout the year has been boosted with an extra £3m investment this year to support Northern Powergrid’s maintenance and network investments plans to provide a safe, resilient and reliable power supply to the 3.9 million homes and businesses it powers.

James Makin, Northern Powergrid's Programme Manager, said: "This year, we've invested £18.6 million on cutting back vegetation that has grown near some 2.8 million metres of our power lines; that’s 1,745 miles of our network.

"With climate change making UK weather warmer, wetter and windier, we are seeing trees growing quicker and for longer periods of the year. So, this programme of vegetation clearance throughout the year is vital and helps us to be winter ready. 

“While not fully eliminating the risks, the work reduces the potential for trees to make contact with our power lines in severe weather or snapped branches hitting our network, causing damage and a power cut for our customers. If anyone spots trees growing too close or touching our power lines, they should say clear of the area and call105 to report it.”

James added: "Wherever possible, we always aim to cut back trees without the need for a planned power cut to reduce disruption for our customers but sometimes, to work safely, we have to isolate our network. When this is needed, we give our customers advance notice so they can make any alternative arrangements they need to minimise the impact on them."

Helping customers be prepared is also important. Northern Powergrid has been encouraging people to ‘get big coat ready’ this winter and sharing top tips on how to stay safe and be prepared if severe weather damages its network and causes a power cut.  It is encouraging people to think about what they need to do to be winter ready and act. Top tips include:

• creating a grab bag at home containing torches and spare batteries, charged power banks for mobile phones, a wind up or battery powered radio, and hand warmers, blankets, thermal sock and gloves,

• saving Northern Powergrid’s online Power Cut Map to mobile phones as it’s the quickest way to report and track a power cut,
• adding 105 – the free number to report a power cut – to mobile phones, and
• encouraging anyone who may be more vulnerable, due to their medical or personal circumstances, to join its free Priority Services Membership.

Northern Powergrid wants to ensure people know what to do if their power supply is ever affected, whether it’s because of an unexpected fault on their local electricity network, severe weather or a wider energy emergency.

As part of its 2023-28 business plan, Northern Powergrid plans to invest around £80m between 2023 and 2028 on climate resilience to help further protect its network from climate change and severe weather. 

To find out more about the vegetation management work Northern Powergrid does to protect the region's power network visit northernpowergrid.com/tree-trimming and check out its Weather Aware page to see how the it tracks forecasts every day to help maintain and improve the resilience of its power network and be prepared for the winter months.