If your power is off
Call 105
Free, 24/7, from any landline or mobile. The 105 line routes you to ENWL if the fault is on its network. If you can see a downed cable, sparking equipment, or there is a risk to life, also call 999. Stay well clear.
Where ENWL delivers your electricity
Electricity North West holds the distribution licence for the whole of the North West of England. If you live in one of the regions below, the cables to your meter belong to ENWL.
Greater Manchester
Manchester, Salford, Bolton, Stockport, Oldham
Lancashire
Preston, Blackpool, Burnley, Blackburn, Lancaster
Cumbria
Carlisle, Kendal, Penrith, Workington, Barrow
North Cheshire
Warrington, Crewe, Macclesfield, Wilmslow
Not sure if you are on ENWL's network? Use the quick check below, or read about what to do in a power cut.
How electricity actually reaches your meter
UK electricity moves in three stages, owned by three different kinds of company. ENWL owns one specific link in that chain.
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1
Transmission: the high-voltage motorway
National Grid Electricity Transmission owns the very high voltage backbone (400 kV and 275 kV) that carries electricity across England and Wales. NESO balances supply and demand across all of Great Britain in real time.
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2
Distribution: ENWL's cables
ENWL takes electricity off the high-voltage grid at large substations, steps the voltage down through several stages (132 kV, 33 kV, 11 kV, finally 230 V), and carries it through 60,000 km of cable across Manchester, Lancashire and Cumbria.
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3
Supply: your bill
An energy supplier buys electricity on the wholesale market, pays ENWL a distribution charge, then resells it to you. The supplier is the only part of the chain you can switch.
Is ENWL my electricity network? Quick check
Pick the region closest to your home. The check below tells you instantly whether Electricity North West is your distributor.
Pick the region closest to your home address.
Yes, Electricity North West is your electricity network.
In a power cut, call 105 free, 24/7. For a new connection or EV charger, apply through ENWL directly.
No, your network is .
For power cuts the number is the same across Great Britain: 105. Read more about your operator.
ENWL or your energy supplier: who handles what
The single biggest source of confusion on a UK electricity bill: calling the wrong company. The split below is fixed across Great Britain.
| If your issue is. | Call ENWL | Call your supplier |
|---|---|---|
| Power cut on your street | Yes, on 105 | No |
| Downed cable or damaged pylon | Yes, plus 999 | No |
| New electricity connection or EV charger | Yes | No |
| Move, upgrade or smart meter | No | Yes |
| Switch tariff or compare prices | No | Yes |
| Bill, payment, direct debit | No | Yes |
| Solar panel or battery export | G98 / G99 application | SEG payment |
How ENWL is paid, and why that matters to your bill
ENWL is a regional monopoly: you cannot choose a different electricity distributor. To stop monopolies from over-charging, the regulator Ofgem caps ENWL's revenue under a multi-year framework called RIIO.
Capped revenue
Ofgem caps how much ENWL can collect each year. If ENWL invests more efficiently, it keeps part of the saving; if it overspends, shareholders absorb the loss.
Storm resilience
Cumbria and rural Lancashire take some of the worst weather in England. ENWL's spend on resilience (undergrounding, vegetation management, automatic switching) is one of the biggest items in its RIIO business plan.
In your bill
Network charges typically account for around a fifth of a UK household electricity bill. Switching supplier only changes the supplier's margin and wholesale cost, not the network charge.
Electricity North West: frequently asked questions
Call 105 from any landline or mobile, free, 24/7. The number routes you to Electricity North West if the fault is on its network. Do not call your energy supplier: your supplier sells you electricity, but ENWL owns the cables and substations. If you can see a downed cable or there is a danger to life, also call 999.
ENWL is independently owned by a consortium of long-term infrastructure investors. It is the only one of Great Britain's electricity distribution networks not owned by an integrated energy group, which means it focuses purely on building, maintaining and operating wires.
Just deliver it. ENWL does not sell electricity: it owns and maintains the cables that bring it to your meter. The electricity itself is sold by your energy supplier, who pays ENWL a distribution charge that is included in your bill.
Apply through the ENWL website with the property address, the maximum demand in kVA and a timeline. ENWL will tell you whether your street has the capacity, the route required for a new lateral cable, and a quote. For EV charge points and solar exports, ENWL processes the G98 or G99 application.
A free Ofgem-mandated list of customers who need extra help during a power cut: pensioners, people with young children, those on home dialysis or oxygen, anyone with a long-term illness. ENWL uses the register to prioritise its response and provide alternative heating during long outages. Sign up through your supplier or directly with ENWL.