Storm Arwen: How many homes remain without power - and what's being done?

1 December 2021, 16:48 | Updated: 6 December 2021, 06:53

Thousands of homes remain without power in the UK after Storm Arwen
Thousands of homes remain without power in the UK after Storm Arwen. Picture: SSEN/Northern Powergrid/Alamy

By Patrick Grafton-Green

Almost a million homes lost power after Storm Arwen wreaked havoc, with tens of thousands still without electricity a week later.

Last Friday, winds reached almost 100mph in parts of northern England and Scotland, power lines were ripped down, many thousands of trees were uprooted and roads were blocked by debris.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has promised to do everything possible to restore power to homes still affected, with engineers sent from across the UK working in the worst-affected areas.

READ MORE: Ice warnings issued and more snow set to hit in wake of Storm Arwen

He told the House of Commons: "Being without power until Christmas is simply unacceptable, I'll say that publicly, and I'll do everything I can to make sure that that doesn't happen.

"Clearly, Storm Arwen was an event the likes of which we haven't seen for certainly 60 years since the record starts."

Caller in Bishop Auckland without power since Friday speaks to LBC

How many homes are still without power?

Seven days after the storm hit, around 10,500 homes were still without electricity as of 2pm.

Almost a million initially lost power, with the Energy Networks Association (ENA) saying it has now been restored to 98% of those affected.

However, the ENA has previously said it will be at least the end of the week - seven days after the devastating storm - before it is back on for a minority.

The worst affected areas are northern England and Scotland.

In England, Northern Powergrid said 11,000 of the homes it supplies are still without electricity, while about 5,850 Electricity North West customers are also still affected.

Meanwhile, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said last night 4,100 remained without power in Scotland.

Click to view maps of Northern Powergrid and SSEN customers affected by power cuts.

Which areas are still affected?

Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron told the Commons two days ago that "at least 7,000 homes" in his Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency, in south Cumbria, have been without power for three to five nights and feel "forgotten".

Shelagh Fogarty hears about Storm Arwen hypothermia victim in Durham

Some had been told they will be without power for another week, he said, and he urged the Government to send in the Army to help.

Thousands in County Durham remained without power, with North West Durham’s Conservative MP Richard Holden saying some living in remote communities had been warned it could be a "very long time" before their electricity supply is fully restored.

Mary Kelly Foy, Labour MP for Durham City, called the ongoing power outages are a "national scandal".

Energy minister Greg Hands visited Weardale in County Durham on Wednesday and met Northern Powergrid engineers to thank them for their efforts.

He said about 3,000 homes in the St John's Chapel area had lost power, which should be down to the "few hundreds" by Wednesday night.

Boris Johnson declares govt doing 'everything' after Arwen

In Scotland, the worst affected area is Aberdeenshire.

Getting help

Welfare centres and hot food are being provided, with the energy network companies working with local resilience forums, emergency services, local authorities and the British Red Cross.

A free support line set up by the Red Cross to provide emotional support can be reached on 0808 196 3651.

The Government has provided information on the steps to take if you are affected by a power cut here.

Meanwhile, information about applying for compensation is available from Ofgem's website.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Dorothy Chiles

Great-grandmother, 87, pictured for first time after deadly train station attack, as woman in her 20s arrested

President Donald Trump speaks on Wednesday night

Trump says 'the US wants its money back on Ukraine' as he makes plans to meet Putin and end war

Exclusive
Katie Amess has spoken out about the need for an inquiry into her father's murder by an Islamist terrorist

Daughter of Sir David Amess, MP murdered by Islamist terrorist, ‘made to sign NDA’ on report into father’s death

Exclusive
Angela Rayner reveals she took advice from NHS trauma specialists ahead of Grenfell demolition meeting

Angela Rayner reveals she took advice from NHS trauma specialists ahead of Grenfell demolition meeting

Italian F1 Grand Prix - Previews

Nightclub bouncer behind £12m plot to reveal Formula One star Michael Schumacher's health secrets jailed

Josef Fritzl

Incest monster Josef Fritzl could walk free from prison next year - and expects 'cheering crowds' to greet him

Ofsted's Chief Inspector Sir Martyn Oliver supports an extension to term times

'Time to think about school holidays': Ofsted's Chief Inspector supports extending term times

Exclusive
Angela Rayner insisted that British support for Ukraine was 'unwavering'

Rayner insists UK support for Ukraine 'unwavering' despite Trump's plan for 'immediate' peace talks with Putin

Prince William, President of BAFTA, operates a film camera as he visits the London Screen Academy in London, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, Pool)

William tries his hand at being a cameraman on visit to London film academy

President Donald J. Trump participates in a bilateral meeting with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin during the G20 Japan Summit Friday, June 28, 2019, in Osaka, Japan.

Trump and Putin 'to meet in Saudi Arabia' and 'start negotiations immediately' to end war in Ukraine

Street scene in Peckham, London, with red bus

Bus driver, 76, found guilty of killing passenger who was run over while attempting to board vehicle

Norward Road, Lambeth, the proposed LTN.

Council staff given 'wellbeing day' after attending 'stormy' neighbourhood meeting

United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, left, shakes hands with Britain's Defense Secretary John Healey prior to a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of a NATO defense ministers meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, Feb.

Ukraine's NATO membership plans 'unrealistic' says US - as defence secretary claims US troops won't be peacekeepers

Jaysley Beck, 19, was found dead at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire

Officer accused of pinning down and trying to kiss soldier, 19, had been 'waiting for moment for them to be alone'

A public inquiry into the Nottingham attacks will begin 'within weeks'

Public inquiry into Nottingham attacks will begin 'within weeks', PM tells victims' families

Paul Allen.

Cagefighter guilty of Britain's largest cash robbery shot in neck in his kitchen in murder plot