The service will also provide customers with the latest information on the situation and when their power is expected to be restored.
NPG, which operates a network of more than 61,000 substations and 94,000 kilometres of overhead lines and underground cables, is encouraging local people to bookmark the power cut reporting service in their phone or tablet.
The improved service follows investment in NPG’s website so it can feed information from the power cut reporting service directly into the company’s operations team.
NPG head of stakeholder and customer engagement Siobhan Barton said: “Significant investment in our network means a power cut is not a regular occurrence for the vast majority of our customers – but bad weather, damage or an unexpected network fault can sometimes cause disruption. If this does happen we want to make it easier for our customers to report their power cut and get the information they need.”
With winter approaching, the electricity distribution companies are likely to experience increased damage to their networks as a result of storms. Last January, SSE engineers fought to restore power to 45,000 households following storm damage to the network.
To help combat the problem, the Energy Networks Association (ENA) is working on implementing a three-digit emergency number, allowing people to contact their electricity network directly.
In June, the project was given the green light by communications regulator, Ofcom, and ENA is currently seeking a creative agency to support delivery of a brand and design of an awareness campaign for the number, due to be launched in England, Wales and Scotland in April 2016.