Around 45 homes in Kempston remain without power this afternoon (Thursday, 26 June), 30 hours after an unplanned fault left over 200 properties without electricity.
The outage, first reported at 09:52 on Wednesday, is centred around Bedford Road and nearby streets.
While UK Power Networks (UKPN) has now repaired the fault on its main network and restored power to over 75% of affected homes, engineers say they still need to access every remaining property to carry out safety checks before the supply can be safely turned back on.
The company has apologised for the disruption and stated that it is prioritising vulnerable customers, working closely with Bedford Borough Council and local organisations to coordinate support.
“No timeframe yet”
As of 13:00 today, UKPN stated that they were unable to provide a timeframe for complete restoration, as some homes still require internal checks by engineers. Residents are being urged to call 0800 316 3105 if they have not yet arranged access with field staff.
Reports have been received of internal damage to devices resulting from the outage.
Specialist electricians from contractor Haste are also on the ground, prioritising boiler repairs to ensure residents have access to hot water before attending to other damaged appliances.
Support available
Two support hubs are now in place for affected residents:
- A Customer Support Vehicle and additional food van are located outside 40 Bedford Road, offering hot food, drinks, WiFi, charging points and help from Customer Champions.
- Centenary Hall, located at 104 Bedford Road (MK42 8BG), remains open, offering kitchen access, seating, toilets, air conditioning, and plug sockets for device charging.
Customer Champions continue to visit homes to provide updates and take note of any issues, including damage to appliances.
UKPN said they are also in contact with housing associations and the local council to arrange access where residents are unavailable or require additional help.
Bedford Borough Council is also advising locals to avoid the area, as several roads remain closed.
“Unexpected road closures remain in place in Kempston, due to ongoing reinstatement works by UK Power Networks, following yesterday’s (sic) power outage. Diversions have been signposted, and we ask you to avoid Bedford Road if possible,” said a spokesperson.
Why it’s taking so long
The delay in restoring power is due to the nature of the fault, which requires individual property inspections to check internal wiring and safety before power can be reinstated.
UKPN has stressed that access to every home is vital for safety and that teams will remain on-site until all issues are resolved. The company added that any customers eligible for compensation will be contacted proactively in due course.
Read: Over 200 Kempston homes without power for 24 hours as unplanned power cut continues
Residents in need of support, especially those with additional needs, are encouraged to speak to Customer Champions on site or call 105 or 0800 31 63 105 for assistance.
