1. Why are these works happening?

As part of ongoing improvements to the energy infrastructure, essential upgrades of the energy centre’s electric supply are required. These works will help prevent future service disruptions and enhance the overall reliability of your energy supply. \nThis phase was originally scheduled to completed last year, but supply chain issues caused it to be postponed until now. Delaying further would have increased costs for the taxpayer and impeded upcoming elements of the project. Completing the works now will help protect the long-term stability of your energy supply.

2. How will this affect some Reside residents?

Date of works: \n Tuesday, 25 February\nTime of shutdown: \n 10:00 AM – no later than 6:00 PM \nSome residents in Weavers Quarter IG11\n will have no heating, hot or cold water, \nor electricity\n. Their electricity is expected to return by 1:00PM\nOther affected residents: \nNo heating or hot water, but electricity will remain available.\nLifts will be unaffected.

3. When will services come back on?

Restoration of service:\n Electricity and cold water service is expected to return to homes by 1:00 PM and heating and hot water is expected to begin returning from 4:00 PM and be fully restored by no later than 6:00 PM.

4. Why is the work being done during the day?

Some residents have asked why the decision was made to do this work during the day. \nAll the options for carrying out this work safely have been considered by the engineers and the project team. \nTaking into account all the factors, the risk-based assessment is that these works are most safely and efficiently carried out during daylight hours.\nThere are several important reasons for this: \nSafety of residents\n - The nighttime temperatures at this time of year are lower than during the day. The impact of a few hours without heating is likely to be greater during the hours of darkness. For those without electricity – a nighttime service disruption would also impact people used to using electric heaters and blankets at night to offset the cold weather. Lack of electricity at night also puts people at risk when they need to move around their homes in the dark.\nSafety of engineers\n – Working with a lack of electricity during the hours of darkness is a bigger safety risk for the engineers completing the works. \nSecurity\n - A power outage will affect security systems and this would be an increased risk during the night. \nNature of work\n – Overnight works are typically those that can be undertaken piecemeal, for example in two-hour slots. The planned upgrades taking place on 25 February and in April cannot be broken down into smaller tranches. Technically they need to be completed in a single workstream.\n

5. What support is available for residents?

Bottled water:\n On the day of the planned works, bottled water will be available for residents whose cold water supply will be interrupted by the power disruption to their homes.\nLocations for collection will be: \nBraid Court and Beckett Court foyers.\nThere is one bottle per household – residents are welcome to pick up a bottle from 9:00AM.\nSupport for vulnerable residents:\n Vulnerable residents can access rooms with heating and water at the Barking Learning Centre (BLC) for the duration of the electricity switch-off. See more details in Q6 below.\nTell us if you or someone in your household needs additional assistance during the shutdown, by emailing enquiries@bdreside.co.uk as soon as possible.\nAlternative working arrangements are available:\n Please see below the answer to the Q7 below.

6. What support is available for vulnerable people?

Vulnerable residents can access rooms with heating and water at the Barking Learning Centre (BLC) for the duration of the electricity switch-off. \nAddress:\n2 Town Square\nBarking\nIG11 7NB\nContact details:\n020 8724 8725 / 020 8724 8722\n\nYou can contact us at \nenquiries@bdreside.co.uk\n or contact the BLC directly to make arrangements.

7. I work from home – if I have no electricity between 10:00AM and 1:00PM where can I go to work?

If you are without electricity, you can access hot desking facilities at the Barking Enterprise Centre whilst works are carried out. \nAddress: \n50 Cambridge Road\nBarking\nIG11 8FG \nContact details: \n020 8227 3030 / 020 82275037 \n\nreception@barkingenterprisecentre.co.uk\n\n\nBEC reception will guide you to the hot-desking facilities upon arrival.

8 Are more works planned?

Yes, the planned energy network upgrade works means that there are two more service disruptions needed in April. These are currently scheduled for 29 and 30 April.\nBE Energy and Reside be writing to residents and updating the BD Energy website with more information on dates and details. Please check back for updates.\n

9 What about my fridge and freezer contents?

During a power supply disruption, the most important thing to do with your fridge and freezer is to keep the doors closed as much as possible; a fridge can generally keep food cold for up to 4 hours, while a full freezer can maintain its temperature for around 48 hours (24 hours if half full) if left unopened.\nNational Grid has advice about your fridge and freezer content here:\n\nhttps://www.nationalgrid.com/power-cuts/tips-prepare-for-power-cut\n

10. Will my wifi still work?

If your power supply electricity is disrupted then \nyour wifi router will not work\n. If you need access to the internet for work, hot desking facilities will be available at the Barking Enterprise Centre – details in FAQ 7.

11. How do I protect electronic devices

Turn off or unplug any sensitive and expensive electrical equipment. Electrical surges during power cuts can damage digital devices, such as phones, TVs, laptops, and tablets, so turn them off or unplug them from the mains to keep them safe.

Planned energy network works

11 February 2025

B&D Reside Communications Team

News

Service disruption on 25 February 2025

We have received notice that essential maintenance works are being carried out on the local energy network, which will require a temporary shutdown of heating, hot water, and in some cases, electricity on Tuesday 25 February 2025.

These works are necessary to ensure the long-term reliability and efficiency of the system.

Emergency procedures

A dedicated response team will be on standby. If you need help urgently, please call Barking and Dagenham Council’s switchboard 0208 215 3000. In the event of a medical emergency please call 999.

Support available to Reside residents

We understand that this temporary shutdown will be inconvenient. To assist residents during this period:

• Bottled water: For blocks where electricity supply will be interrupted, five-litre bottles of drinking water will be provided – more details below.

• Work-from-home support: If you will be without electricity and need alternative working arrangements, hot desking will be available for you at the Barking Enterprise Centre (BEC) – more details below.

• Support for vulnerable residents: Support is in place at Barking Learning Centre (BLC) for people who need extra help – details are linked to below.

Tell us if you or someone in your household needs additional assistance during the shutdown, by emailing enquiries@bdreside.co.uk as soon as possible.

Questions

If you have any concerns or require further information, please contact enquiries@bdreside.co.uk

Frequently asked questions

Answers to frequently asked questions can be found below: