Western Power Distribution: when should I get in contact?

Western Power Distribution is one of the 14 licensed Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) in the UK. Each of these 14 companies maintains a regional section of the National Grid infrastructure and is responsible for supplying electricity to the homes and businesses in the area they cover.

What do Western Power Distribution do?

Western Power Distribution, like the other DNOs operating in the UK, plays and essential part in the distribution of energy. The company operates a regional network that transports electricity from generators to customers. These networks are made up of overhead lines and underground cables. They are responsible for maintaining and upgrading all of the cables, overhead lines and other infrastructure that falls within their network.

Western Power Distribution is responsible for:

• The maintenance and upgrading of 220,000km of overhead and underground power lines
• The maintenance of 185,000 transformers
• Maintenance of the substations located within their network
• Connecting new homes and businesses to the electricity network
• Connecting small energy generators to the electricity network
• Relocating electricity cables
• Responding to power cuts
• Reducing the voltage of the National Grid electricity to a usable level
• Returning excess energy to the National Grid

What they don’t do is sell energy to end users. If you’re a customer living in the area the company covers, you won’t buy your energy from them. Instead, you’ll pay an energy supplier who in turn will pay the DNO for supplying energy to your home. If you have an issue with your bill payments or another problem with your energy tariff, you should get in touch with your energy supplier, not Western Power Distribution.

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What area does Western Power cover?

Western Power Distribution covers the Midlands, the South West and South Wales. They provide energy to almost 8 million homes and businesses. If you live in one of these areas and experience a power cut or another issue with your energy supply or energy infrastructure, it’s Western Power you need to contact.

When should I contact Western Power Distribution?

Although Western Power Distribution doesn’t charge you for supplying energy to your home, they’re still ultimately responsible for the service. This means that there are a number of reasons you may need to get in touch with the company directly.

Get information on a power cut in your area

If there’s a power cut in your area, you should get in touch with Western Power Distribution to find out when the issue will be resolved. They should be able to tell you how widespread the power cut is and how long it will be before your home or business is back online.

You can also call them to report a power cut. Telling the company about a power outage in your area can help them to fix the problem as quickly as possible.

Connect a new home or business to the grid

If you’ve built a new home or developed a new commercial location, you’ll need to contact Western Power Distribution and ask them to connect you to the grid.

Report a fault with the energy infrastructure in your area

You may also need to get in touch with Western Power Distribution to report a fault with the energy infrastructure in your area. If you see a tree that’s fallen on power lines, cables that have come down or energy infrastructure that’s been vandalised, you should get in touch with them as soon as possible.

Arrange to move your electricity meter

If you need to move your electricity meter because of renovation or extension work on your property, you’ll need to contact Western Power Distribution to arrange the relocation of your energy cables. Although it’s your energy supplier that will be responsible for moving the actual meter, the DNO has to move the energy cables that feed your property and connect to the meter.

Sign up to the Priority Services Register

All DNOs and energy suppliers keep a Priority Services Register. This lists vulnerable customers living in their area and allows them to provide these customers will extra support in case of a power cut or other energy issue. If you feel that you, or someone you know, should be on the Priority Services Register, you should get in touch with Western Power Distribution to let them know.

Make a complaint about your service

If you feel the service that Western Power Distribution is providing in your area isn’t up to scratch, you should contact the company to make a complaint.

What services does Western Power Distribution provide?

The main services they provide involve maintaining and upgrading the energy infrastructure in their region. They are also responsible for connecting new homes and businesses to the network and for sending excess energy back to the National Grid.

To read more on this topic, check out these guides:

• UK Power Networks
• Electricity Northwest
• SP Energy Networks
• Northern Powergrid

FAQ

How many customers does Western Power Distribution have?

Western Power Distribution covers a large region of the UK. It currently supplies energy to around 8 million customers in the Midlands, the South West and South Wales.

How can I contact Western Power Distribution?

You can contact Western Power Distribution by calling 0800 096 3080 or emailing wdpnewsupplies@weesternpower.co.uk.

How do I find out if there is a power cut in my area?

If you need to report a power cut, you can do so by calling 105 or 0800 096 3080. You can get in touch with the company 24 hours a day to find out about power cuts and report issues in your area.

Who is buying Western Power Distribution?

In August 2020, Western Power Distribution was put up for sale by its US parent company The PPL Corporation. PPL decided that it wanted to focus on purely American holdings and so is currently looking for a buyer for the DNO.