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NIE: 800 customers still without electricity on Monday NIE: 800 customers still without electricity on Monday
(about 1 hour later)
Eight hundred homes and businesses are still without electricity in Northern Ireland.Eight hundred homes and businesses are still without electricity in Northern Ireland.
NIE said it had worked to restore power to more than 137,000 customers over the weekend. Thousands lost their supply due to strong winds and heavy snow.NIE said it had worked to restore power to more than 137,000 customers over the weekend. Thousands lost their supply due to strong winds and heavy snow.
Most of those still affected are in rural areas in eastern and northern counties.Most of those still affected are in rural areas in eastern and northern counties.
NIE says it could be tomorrow before power is restored to all customers. NIE says it could be Tuesday before power is restored to all customers.
Repair teams are having difficulty reaching some parts due to "impassable roads".Repair teams are having difficulty reaching some parts due to "impassable roads".
"We're working with Roads Service to get roads cleared but in some areas we are going to have to helicopter crews and materials in," said NIE spokeswoman Julia Carson."We're working with Roads Service to get roads cleared but in some areas we are going to have to helicopter crews and materials in," said NIE spokeswoman Julia Carson.
"At the moment we've got small pockets of customers, really on high ground in and around, Stoneyford, Dundrod, Mallusk, areas of Ballycastle, Newcastle, and other areas of County Down as well."At the moment we've got small pockets of customers, really on high ground in and around, Stoneyford, Dundrod, Mallusk, areas of Ballycastle, Newcastle, and other areas of County Down as well.
"We have over 140 extra lines staff from the Republic of Ireland and Scotland and they've been helping our emergency crews on the ground. There are just some areas where we cannot physically get to the faults.""We have over 140 extra lines staff from the Republic of Ireland and Scotland and they've been helping our emergency crews on the ground. There are just some areas where we cannot physically get to the faults."
Small groups of customers are without supply in the following areas:Small groups of customers are without supply in the following areas:
Ms Carson said the weather conditions on Friday were "exceptional".Ms Carson said the weather conditions on Friday were "exceptional".
"Our key focus is to restore power," she said."Our key focus is to restore power," she said.
"We have been using a helicopter to patrol remote areas and have commissioned an additional helicopter to deliver NIE emergency crews, engineers and equipment into these areas on Monday by air."We have been using a helicopter to patrol remote areas and have commissioned an additional helicopter to deliver NIE emergency crews, engineers and equipment into these areas on Monday by air.
"Our incident management centre and local incident centres in affected areas are open and will remain operational until all customers are back on supply.""Our incident management centre and local incident centres in affected areas are open and will remain operational until all customers are back on supply."
NIE said any customers still without power should contact them.NIE said any customers still without power should contact them.
NIE's customer help line number is 08457 643643.NIE's customer help line number is 08457 643643.
Meanwhile Belfast Trust has cancelled all non-urgent operations planned for Monday. Meanwhile Belfast Trust said some operations which were scheduled for Monday had been cancelled as a result of the bad weather.
The trust apologised but said the bad weather was placing extra pressures on its hospital resources. The trust apologised but said most planned surgery had gone ahead as planned.
It said the cancelled operations would be rebooked at the earliest opportunity. It said it would continue to prioritise urgent and cancer patients.
The trust said any cancelled operations would be rebooked at the earliest opportunity.
A spokeswoman for the Northern Trust said hospital services were operating as usual.
"Some community staff had problems reaching clients in remote rural areas who receive health and social care services," she said.
"Contingency plans were put in place to ensure that all clients were contacted and where possible received appropriate care.
"Where staff could not reach clients due to severe weather conditions the trust contacted family and neighbours of clients and the PSNI to ask them to visit the client and provide support for these vulnerable people."