Bishop’s Stortford power cut: Shops, offices, dentist and pub in town centre hit by blackout

Electricity engineers have restored supplies to 52 customers in Bishop’s Stortford town centre after a power cut plunged shops, offices, a dentist’s and a pub into darkness.

The cut happened shortly after midday and affected businesses stretching from estate agent Mullucks in Water Lane, across Bridge Street to the Bishop’s Stortford Independent newsroom in Palmers Lane for about seven-and-a-half hours.

Others hit included Bupa Dental Care in Barrett Lane, Bridge Street estate agents Lednor and Park Lane, the Star pub, bookmaker William Hall, nail bar Pixie Nails, electricals shop Rickmores and the Isabel Hospice charity shop.

Initially, two blown fuses in the substation in the Old River Lane area were believed to be the cause of the problem and UK Power Networks hoped to have power restored between 3.30pm and 4.30pm, but the issue proved to be more serious than that.

The company said in an update at 3.20pm: “Our engineers have investigated and found that the power is off due to a fault on our underground electricity network which has affected our substation equipment, so we're sending a specialist team to pinpoint the fault and dig down to expose the cabling for repairs.

“Considering the work that may be required, the revised estimated time to have the power back on is 8pm to 9pm.”

Indie editor Paul Winspear said: “This is the fifth or sixth time we’ve had a power cut since we relocated here from North Street in August 2022.

“Previously the cuts have been more random – for example, affecting just one floor of the dentists in Barrett Lane while the other floor was fine, and some premises in Bridge Street but not others – but this time the blackout is more widespread.”

UK Power Networks became aware of the power cut at 12.06 and engineers arrived on site at about 1.30pm. Power was restored at 7.35pm.

The company told customers half an hour later: “Engineers have managed to restore power from the substation nearby and will be investigating the root cause.”