Northern Powergrid: power cuts & new connections
Northern Powergrid owns and operates one of Great Britain’s six electricity networks. Read on to find out more about the services that are available to residents in the distributor’s area.
About Northern Powergrid
Northern Powergrid is the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) for the North East of England, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire. This includes large urban areas such as Leeds, Newcastle and Hull.
Northern Powergrid manages an electricity network that covers around 25,000 square kilometres. It brings power to more than 3.9 million homes and businesses and reaches 8 million people.
The network consists of 60,000 substations and 94,000 kilometres of overhead lines and underground cables – that’s the distance of travelling from Leeds to New York and back eight times!
In the map below, you can see the area to which Northern Powergrid distributes electricity.
If you’re not able to tell if your home or business is located within the Northern Powergrid network, the easiest way to make sure is by going to the company’s website and entering your postcode into the live power cut map. You will be notified if Northern Powergrid does not distribute electricity to your area.
Are you not within the Northern Powergrid network area? Head to your company’s guide to learn more about your distributor.
- UK Power Networks
- SP Energy Networks
- Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks
- Western Power Distribution
- Electricity North West
Who is my supplier?
If you’re looking for your electricity supplier, it’s not Northern Powergrid. The company delivers electricity to your home or business, but it doesn’t provide the actual electricity.
Your electricity supplier is the company that you pay your bills to. If you have a look at your electricity bill, you’ll see that part of what you pay to your supplier is then paid to Northern Powergrid in exchange for running and maintaining the electricity network.
Got a power cut?
If you experience a power cut, you should contact Northern Powergrid to report it. You can reach the distributor by calling either 0800 3163 105 or simply just 105. Phone lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Both of these numbers are free from a mobile phone and landline.
In the case of a power cut, we also recommend that you take the following action (if possible):
- See if other areas are affected. You could either ask your neighbours or check the street lights.
- Check that the trip switch in your fuse box is turned on. If it is not in the on position, turn off all electrical appliances and attempt to reset the switch.
- Switch off electrical appliances that shouldn’t be left unattended. This includes irons and other devices that may present danger if they restart when the power comes back on.
- Check on your vulnerable neighbours. Make sure they are warm and have sufficient food supplies.
- Don’t open your freezer. If left unopened, some freezers can remain cold for up to 12 hours! In the case that your food spoils, you may even be able to file a claim on your home insurance.
Northern Powergrid power cut map
You can find the Northern Powergrid live power cut map on the distributor’s website. To access the map, go to the homepage and click on where it says Power cuts next to the Northern Powergrid logo.
Then click the red button on the right-hand side that says View live power cut map. Enter your postcode in the boxes at the top of the page.
You will be redirected to the map and given information as to the cause and for how long the power cut is expected to last. If the power cut has not yet been reported, you should contact Northern Powergrid to let the company know.
Need a new connection?
If you need to connect a property (or properties) to the Northern Powergrid electricity network or modify an existing connection, you can apply online via the Northern Powergrid website. The application will take you about 30 minutes to fill out.
You can apply for a new connection on the Northern Powergrid website. Go to the distributor’s homepage and click on where it says Get Connected near the top of the page.
In addition to providing property and contact details, you will also need to include a site location plan that shows the ownership and boundaries of the site where the connection will either be made or altered.
For large or complex connections, you may need to book an appointment with a design engineer before applying for a connection or a modification.
In the table below, you will find information regarding the average time it takes to get a quote and get connected, as well as the average price for the required service.
Once you get your quote, you must make the payment before any work can commence.
| Connection type | Average time to get a quote | Average price | Average time to get connected after you pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service alteration | 4 days | £600 | 7 weeks |
| 1 standard connection | 5 days | £1,372 | 10 weeks |
| Up to 4 standard connections | 15 days | £5,850 | 13 weeks |
| Over 4 standard connections (based on 6) | 25 days | £9,700 | 19 weeks |
| Typical small business connection | 25 days | £11,645 | 19 weeks |
| Multiple small business connections (based on 6) | 25 days | £47,316 | 19 weeks |
| Typical large business connection | 35 days | £95,000 | 29 weeks |
| Extra high voltage connection | 65 days | Price on request | 2 years |
| Unmetered connections | 25 days | £2,900 | 5 weeks |
Once the new connection is made, you must register with a licensed electricity supplier. This will be the company that also installs your electricity meter. Before choosing just any supplier, we advise that you do a bit of research.
Check out the following supplier guides to help you decide which company to choose:
- Best energy supplier
- Cheapest electricity supplier
- UK energy suppliers
- How to compare suppliers
- Business energy
Contact Northern Powergrid
Need to contact Northern Powergrid? We break down the best ways for you to contact the distribution company below.
| Department | Phone number | Opening hours |
|---|---|---|
| General enquiries | 0800 011 3332 | 24/7 |
| Power cut | 105029 4285 | 24/7 |
| Electrical connections | 0800 011 3433 | Monday-Friday: 8am-8pm, Saturday: 9am-5pm |
| Complaints | 0800 011 3332 | 24/7 |
| Payments | 0800 587 8865 | 24/7 |
Emergency contact information
If you experience a power cut or some sort of electricity emergency, contact Northern Powergrid on 105 immediately. Lines operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
General enquiries
Contact Northern Powergrid on 0800 011 3332 for any general enquiries you may have. Representatives are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. This is also the number you should dial to make a complaint or to request any of the following services:
- Shrouding of overhead lines
- Tree trimming around overhead lines
- Network plans showing underground electricity cables
Instead of calling the distributor, you can reach out to Northern Powergrid by either sending an email to [email protected] or via Facebook or Twitter (@Northernpowergrid).
Residents can also send a letter addressed to the following mailing address: Customer Care Team, Manor House, Station Road, Penshaw, Houghton le Spring, DH4 7LA.
Careers
Would you like to apply for a job at Northern Powergrid? The company currently employs nearly 2,500 staff. Whether you’re interested in fieldwork or office-based positions, Northern Powergrid offers a variety of career opportunities. It claims to want its employees “to grow, to be challenged, and to succeed.”
To find current job vacancies, go to the Northern Powergrid website and click on where it says Careers in the top bar. Next, click on Latest Vacancies, located on the right side of the screen. You can then download the information pack for the career your interested in, and even apply online.