Imagine the frustration of running a business only to be repeatedly interrupted by power outages. This is the harsh reality for many traders in a district of North Yorkshire, particularly in Selby, where frequent electricity cuts have resulted in significant financial losses and spoiled food, according to local business owners.
Chris Goodall, the general manager of Selby Golf Club, recently shared his dismay over multiple failures of the mains electricity supply, including two incidents that occurred while diners were eagerly waiting for their Sunday lunch. He estimated that these interruptions cost the venue upwards of £5,000, stating, "It’s incredibly frustrating. We’re putting in a lot of effort to grow our business and enhance our reputation in the area."
Louise Lowes from Northern Powergrid responded to these concerns, assuring the public that the company has been taking consistent steps to enhance the reliability of the electrical network, which is now functioning normally without any ongoing permanent faults. She attributed the recent power outages to a mix of network issues and environmental factors.
Keir Mather, Selby’s Labour MP, acknowledged Northern Powergrid's efforts but emphasized that there is still much work to be done. Goodall recounted one particular outage that occurred just thirty minutes before meals were set to be served, leaving some diners unaware of the situation. For many, it was either their first visit to the club or a special occasion they had been looking forward to, making the inability to honor reservations all the more disappointing.
"This reflects poorly on us as a club; we were unable to meet our commitments," Goodall remarked. "Considering our full bookings, which included bar and catering services, the losses could exceed £5,000. The catering is managed through a franchise, so not only did they lose food, but they also had staff wages to cover." He added that the power outages have been extremely detrimental and will require considerable time to rectify.
Goodall expressed his dissatisfaction with the generic responses from Northern Powergrid regarding the issue. "These replies are unsatisfactory. It’s concerning because we’re talking about people's livelihoods here. With the inconsistent power supply, it sometimes feels like we're stuck in the Victorian era," he lamented. While he appreciated the support from Mather and his team, he hoped for more substantive answers regarding the ongoing issues.
In the nearby village of Thorpe Willoughby, approximately three miles from the golf club and one of the areas most severely impacted by the outages, shopkeeper Ian Gutsell shared his own challenges. He has taken to keeping a torch and lantern behind the counter, preparing for future outages. Gutsell, who co-owns Fox Lane Stores, explained that safety protocols require him to close the shop whenever the power goes out, leading to hundreds of pounds in lost sales during each incident. "Power cuts have been a major headache for us. Without power, we can’t operate our tills or payment machines," he noted. Although they haven’t experienced an outage in the past week, the shop has endured six interruptions within the last few months, causing him to remain vigilant regarding Northern Powergrid's response.
Next door, Asir Cesmecik, who runs the Fox Lane Fryer fish and chip shop, reported that while his business continues to function, he has lost count of how many times the power has gone out. Having operated the shop for three years, he noted that outages often happen almost monthly, with occurrences increasing significantly depending on weather conditions. "It’s very frustrating. We put in hard work to open the shop, and then when the power fails, everything has to be discarded," he said. "The losses run into the thousands, but if I focused on the exact amount I’ve lost, I might feel discouraged enough not to open at all."
Selby MP Mather revealed that he had previously sent an open letter to Northern Powergrid’s CEO, expressing his outrage over the persistent outages. He highlighted that some villages surrounding Selby were the hardest hit, with one village experiencing 12 power cuts in just 24 hours last month. "I have a responsibility to keep Northern Powergrid accountable and advocate for the local community," he stated. "Next month, we’re organizing a meeting with representatives from various parish councils and Northern Powergrid to discuss the damaging effects of these outages and explore effective solutions."
In her apology for the disruptions affecting customers in Selby, Lowes reiterated the company's understanding of the frustrations caused by the outages. She explained that the power cuts in 2025 were due to a combination of network failures and environmental issues. Measures have been implemented, such as repairing overhead equipment, conducting significant vegetation management, and permanently fixing underground cables. "The network is currently functioning normally, and we have no outstanding permanent faults. Additionally, more reliability improvements are scheduled for February and March," she added.
Lowes assured that Northern Powergrid adheres to Ofgem’s guaranteed standards regarding compensation, ensuring payments are distributed to eligible customers. "With the network stabilized and further work planned, we will continue to monitor performance closely and look forward to our meeting with Mr. Mather in February 2026," she concluded.
