Hi all

You may remember we emailed you a couple of months ago about the launch of a new national phone number “105”, which will be launched by all electricity network operators for customers to call should they need to report or get information about a power cut in their area. Instead of dialling 0800 numbers, customers will be able to call the new “105” number.

Key points to note about this service are:
· Dialling 105 will put customers through to their local electricity network operator – the company that manages the cables, power lines and substations that deliver electricity into homes and businesses in their area.
· 105 is just one of the ways that customers can contact their electricity network operator. They can also contact them by phone or via their website, and most network operators are on social media too.
· 105 is a free service for people in England, Scotland and Wales.
· Customers can call 105 no matter who they choose to buy electricity from.
· Customers can also call 105 if they spot damage to electricity power lines and substations that could put anyone in danger. If there’s a serious immediate risk, they should call the emergency services too.

One simple, but effective way you support the launch is through joining our social media Thunderclap. This allows causes, such as the launch of 105, to gain support from huge groups of people through using their social media following.

Through Thunderclap people can show their support by agreeing to share a single message about the launch of 105. Our Thunderclap will complete at 10am on 6th September, at which point this single message will be sent from the Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr account of everyone who signed up. This will give the launch of 105 a huge amount of reach in a very short space of time.

How do you use Thunderclap?

· Go to the ‘Power cut? Call 105’ Thunderclap page: https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/46062-power-cut-call-105
· Click on the large red buttons to show support through using either Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr.
· The next dialogue will confirm the message that will be sent on your behalf when the campaign completes. Give it a read and check you’re happy. The default message is “There’s a new number to call in the event of a power cut. Don’t get left in the dark – call 105. http://thndr.me/deu51r “
· Click ‘Add my support’
· You’re all done!

A national consumer awareness campaign will run from this month through to next spring and will include PR, media advertising, social media and coordinated messaging through partner channels.

Hopefully you can help us to raise awareness of this important new national 105 service through your channels, once the service is launched. We can provide you with materials to use, including:
· Copy for newsletters, websites and magazines
· 105 imagery
· Tips on what to do in a power cut
· Comment from our spokespeople
· Social media assets
· An animated film explaining 105
· We can also work with you to co-create bespoke content specifically for your channels.

We will also want to continue to work with partners to raise awareness of 105 in the longer-term.

A Stakeholder Toolkit, which includes creative collateral you might wish to use (in English and Welsh), along with the brand guidelines, has been produced. It can be downloaded from here.

If you have any questions or would like any further information, do let me know. Also, if you are able to support awareness raising of 105, please can you let us know when, where and how you can help by contacting/emailing encommunications@spenergynetworks.co.uk.

Kind regards

Tracy Joyce
Head of Stakeholder Engagement and Communications
SP Energy Networks