Working with the Met Office, National Energy Action and Age UK, Energy Network Association's (ENA) Winter Resilience Committee will focus on protecting those most in need. The Committee has been launched by energy network operators, including Electricity North West to raise awareness of our Priority Service Registers which provide additional support to customers during power cuts or gas emergencies.

Energy networks are responsible for providing a reliable energy network that ensures we keep your lives running and homes warm no matter how severe the weather. We'll be using the hashtag #BeWinterReady across social media and we're asking other organisations to join us.

The Winter Resilience Committee will also publish a dashboard following each named storm, the first of its kind to collate data from every energy network in the UK. The dashboard will be used as a resource for customers and policymakers to understand how these storms affect the country, and to track the resilience of the British energy networks.

The Winter Resilience Committee, along with Electricity North West and other electricity and gas network companies, are urging people to be winter ready and take the following steps to prepare for the winter months.

Know your free emergency numbers
It is important to know who to contact if your power or gas goes out. In a power cut call 105 and for a gas emergency call 0800 111 999. If you're in our area, you can also use our online postcode checker for live power cut updates.

Be winter ready
Prepare your home by keeping a torch handy and get your appliances serviced by a Gas Safe registered engineer to prevent any breakdowns or carbon monoxide poisoning. People who need extra support can sign up to the Priority Services Register.

Keep your eyes open
Keep an eye on the weather forecast and, if you have a power cut or a gas emergency, check on your neighbours and call your emergency number.