WhyWaitForever - London
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WhyWaitForever - London - Energy Help
Energy Help and Emergency Telephone Numbers
This page lists the help and emergency telephone numbers for reporting electricity and gas supply problems in London and the surrounding area. It is very important to take swift action to make any potentially dangerous situation safe.
For incidents involving:
no supply or gas leaks or
supply interruptions or
supply quality or other concerns such as damaged or insecure installations.
The telephone numbers below should be used for the above types of incidents irrespective of who is contracted to "supply" the electricity or the gas.
There are in excess of fifty energy companies that can "supply" electricity or gas to customers in London. Nevertheless in the overwhelming majority of cases they all use the same monopoly company to distribute the electricity or gas to the premises of a particular customer in a particular area. The exceptions are those large businesses which use "private" distribution networks.
Electricity
A single monopoly company owns the wires and other assets and delivers the distribution of electricity in each geographic area.
London - north from London 0800 0280247
The monopoly company is EdF Energy the French giant.
- south east from London 0800 783 8866
The monopoly company is Powercare which is part of SEEBOARD.
- south from London - south west from London 08457 70 80 90
The monopoly company is Southern Electric.
Gas
A single monopoly company owns the pipes and other assets and delivers the distribution of gas in all geographic areas. This company has sole responsibility for stopping all gas leaks.
London and the UK 0800 111 999
The monopoly company is Transco which is owned by Lattice which was demerged from British Gas.
Electricity and Gas Overview
Generation, Supply and Distribution
The electricity generators who operate power stations sell electricity to electricity suppliers who use in the main monopoly electricity distribution companies to distribute the electricity to the final receipient customer. Electricity in bulk and at high voltage is transmitted across the National Grid. This is received by the distribution companies that "step-down" the voltage in a number of steps until finally it reaches the home at the familiar 240 volts ac.
The gas extraction companies extract gas from the gas fields and sell gas to gas suppliers who use in the main the monopoly gas distribution company to distribute the gas to the final receipient customer.
Meters
The ownership status of the meters can be confusing. A customer should keep independent records of all exchanges of meters and if possible all visits to meters. The meter operative should be asked to initial the information recorded. Why?
Meters can be exchanged and fitted to another customer. The paperwork can go missing and you will continue to be charged for the consumption of another customer. If this has happened to you write to us and let us know.