Strange electricity problems in Audlem (updated)

From about 4.15 this afternoon a number of residents have described unusual power outages in the village. Unlike a complete power failure, lights are staying on dim, and low power devices are continuing to operate.

The problem seemed to be fixed around 7.00pm but not before one resident noticed that Scottish Power doesn't seem to be listed in the phone book, either under the company name, its previous name of Manweb or 'electricity'. British Gas has its electricity service listed, as does another provider called SWEB.

Another resident has noted that if you do call Scottish Power to report a fault, having obtained the number via a laptop not dependent on mains electricity, you are put through to a robot and are robotically told to give your postcode. The robot then said it could not recognise the Audlem postcode given several times. "Either there's something wrong with the robot," our correspondent observes, "or perhaps the Scottish Power robot comes from Glasgow and can't understand a Cheshire accent!"

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