Greater Manchester’s power network is winter-ready

Rochdale substation flooded in December 2015

Electricity North West has strengthened and upgraded the power network to help keep the lights on for customers in Greater Manchester ahead of any severe weather this winter.

Last week severe weather caused the loss of power to 18,000 customers across the region and engineers worked in extremely difficult conditions to restore the majority of customers within a few hours.

Across the North West 505 miles of trees have been cut, overhead power lines have been upgraded and replaced and underground electricity cables have been upgraded.

Last year the North West was hit by severe weather with Storm Desmond, Storm Eva and Storm Frank, which generated the wettest December since records began in 1910.

Storms Eva and Frank hit the region between Boxing Day and New Year's Eve and engineers restored power to 53,000 properties, including 26,000 affected by flooding at Rochdale's main substation.

Since winter work has been carried out to help further protect the key substation in Rochdale ahead of any potential severe weather this winter, with new flood doors, applying waterproof membranes, cable ducting and CCTV which will help monitor any activity in the substation.