A simple idea, developed in Sussex as a result of last October's floods, is helping prevent lengthy power cuts across the UK.

The idea will also save electricity sub-stations from serious damage and financial loss. Ironically, Nick Rogers, Seeboard's faults operations manager, came up with the idea on the very day his base in Stephenson Way, Crawley, was flooded.

When Lewes was inundated last year, water-damaged equipment at seven Seeboard sites had to be replaced, delaying the restoration of power supplies in some areas.

Nick was discussing with colleagues what lessons could be learned from the problems suffered in Lewes when he came up with the idea of enclosing sub-station equipment in an airtight cover, effectively keeping it dry in a bubble of air.

Covering the equipment in a plastic or rubber sheet, held in place all around by sandbags, lessens the likelihood of damage and can be carried out quickly and easily without extensive or time-consuming protection work.

Since he came up with the idea, the procedure has been used at a large number of sites, preventing the need to replace switchgear when the floodwater subsides.

Nick said: "When we first decided to try it out, one of the problems we faced was in getting hold of a large amount of suitable protective coverings at short notice.

"Normal plastic sheeting was not strong enough, so we tried a couple of places for materials, then settled on fishpond liners, before someone came up with the better idea of using the rubber sheeting farmers use to cover silage pits.

"When the Thames was on flood alert, about 100 sites were visited and a number of those were bagged and covered. More than 40 other sites have been protected as well.

"A large team worked around the clock to protect sub-stations as the water was rising. The result is that none of the equipment has had to be replaced.

"Now we've bought all the sheeting and sandbags, they are being kept at the sub-stations so the equipment can be protected quickly when there is a risk.

"Ultimately, when there is severe weather and flooding, this protection is better for our customers as, instead of suffering two or three days of interrupted supplies while we replace equipment, we can restore supplies as soon as it is safe."

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