THE second major power cut in three weeks hit Shoreditch on Tuesday (March 23) causing severe problems for businesses in the area.
Almost 1,100 customers were affected when there was a fault with EDF Energy’s high voltage underground electricity cables at 3.05pm. Though power was restored to most customers within minutes, almost 500 were left without power for over two hours.
Hotels, restaurants, shops and bars in the Rivington Street area all suffered disruption.
Jihane Mamouri, Sales Manager, Crowne Plaza hotel, Shoreditch High Street, said: “Operationally it’s really, really bad. We literally can’t work and then you have to offer complimentary service.”
Mamouri said she would like to be informed about any potential works beforehand.
“We have a back-up system we can use if we know it’s going to happen,” she said, “if it’s unexpected it’s terrible.”
A senior worker at the Rivington Grill, who asked not to be named, said: “We were badly affected by the power cut on March 8. We had to close for the whole day and lost up to £3,000.”
Paul Haggins, general manager of design furniture store SCP said: “We can’t trade properly. It interrupts our trading. We have extension leads stretching from downstairs, but they always become a hazard.”
A spokesperson from EDF said: “We do appreciate how difficult it is for homes and businesses to be without electricity and would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused”.
