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Northern Gas Networks (NGN), the gas distributor for the North of England, is carrying out essential work in Whitley Bay to replace the ageing metal pipework with new, more durable plastic pipes.

This work will ensure the continued safe and reliable supply of gas to customers in Whitley Bay, keeping homes and businesses safe, warm and connected.

The project, which is expected to last until around the end of September, has been planned in collaboration with North Tyneside Council. So that engineers can carry out the work safely and efficiently, and to protect the public, some traffic management measures have been put in place.

Work Details

Work will start on Monday 27 July, and temporary traffic lights will be in place on Cauldwell Lane for the duration of the project. Road closures will also be in place at the junctions of Crawford Place, Oakland Road and Woodleigh Road. Parking on Cauldwell Lane will also be restricted during the works.

Dan Hind, Operations Lead at Northern Gas Networks, said: “We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused during these essential works, which we appreciate are taking place in a busy location. However, it’s vital we complete them to continue to maintain a safe and reliable gas supply to the residents of Whitley Bay.

“Shops and businesses in the area will remain open as usual and we will be working hard to complete this essential project as safely and as quickly as possible.”

For further information about the work please contact NGN’s Customer Care Team on 0800 040 7766 or email: [email protected].

Smell Gas or Suspect Carbon Monoxide?

Anyone that smells gas or suspects carbon monoxide should call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999. This line is in operation 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

The cost of living and rising energy prices continue to put pressure on small businesses, charities and community groups. That’s why energy saving isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s essential for protecting your budget and future-proofing your organisation.

For many businesses, energy accounts for over 10% of monthly outgoings, making it one of the highest controllable costs.

The good news? With the right energy-saving practices, you can reduce your energy use, lower your bills, and move towards a more sustainable future. With this article, and our Energy Saving Tips For Small Businesses guide, small business owners and charity organisers will have practical tips they can walk away with to help reduce energy consumption and costs, ready for the winter months ahead.

Where is your energy being used?

Before anything else can happen, the first step is knowing where and how your energy is being used. Understanding your energy usage is key to effective energy saving. For most small businesses and organisations, energy is mainly used for lighting, heating and powering equipment, including charging devices.

These everyday activities quickly add up. However, they also offer some of the biggest opportunities for energy savings.

One of the most effective ways to improve energy efficiency is to conduct a simple energy audit. This doesn’t need to be time-consuming or complicated. It’s an activity that can be done in a day but has a great impact on your business practices.

Start with these three steps:

• review your current tariff to make sure you’re on the best available deal,
• track your overall energy consumption (for example, annual kWh usage), and
• break down usage by equipment, department or time of day.

This helps you identify where energy is being wasted and where energy-saving changes will have the biggest impact.

Remember though, this is not a one-and-done activity. Energy audits should be an annual review as your business and organisation change and your work evolves. Regular reviews are a great way to track your progress and keep your energy-saving efforts on track.

Make smarter use of your workspace and equipment

Modern working patterns, including hybrid working, have changed how businesses use their spaces. Adapting your workspace is a simple but powerful way to improve energy efficiency.

Energy-saving actions shouldn’t be complex. It can be as simple as only heating areas that are in use, to reconfigure office layouts to avoid heating empty rooms. Grouping teams in the same space will reduce the overall building’s lighting and heating demands, allowing you to save space and energy.

Small operational changes can have the greatest impact on energy use and costs. Over time, you’ll see these add up, ensuring more money for what’s important to your organisation.

When it comes to day-to-day operations, some of the best energy-saving solutions are quick, low-cost, and easy to implement. Consider:

• installing motion sensors so lights turn off automatically,
• switching to LED lighting to reduce electricity use,
• using smart thermostats for better temperature control, and
• monitor your smart meter to understand energy patterns.

However, it’s not just about the technology you implement. Encouraging energy-saving behaviours among employees and volunteers is just as important. Simple habits like switching off lights and equipment when not in use can deliver long-term results. In addition, creating ‘green teams’ within your organisation can also help drive engagement and accountability.

Small changes can reduce energy use by up to 25%, saving money whilst also cutting carbon emissions.

Take advantage of energy-saving support

Did you know many organisations miss out on support that could help them improve energy efficiency and reduce costs? Instead of leaving money on the table, business owners should take advantage of the wide range of schemes available to support energy efficiency.

These vary depending on your business and locations. However, some of the government-led opportunities include:

• grants for energy-efficient upgrades (e.g. heat pumps),
• funding for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure,
• training programmes focused on low-carbon skills, and
• business rates relief for energy-efficient improvements.

Eligibility varies; however, it is worth taking advantage of this support to see which option is best for your business or organisation. Visit Ofgem’s website for more information and a breakdown of all the current grants and schemes available: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-businesses/find-business-energy-efficiency-grants-and-schemes

Take control of your energy use and the future of your business

Energy saving is no longer just about cutting costs. It’s about building resilience and preparing for the future. By understanding how your energy is used, making smarter operational decisions, and encouraging simple behaviour changes, you can reduce your energy use today and create a more sustainable tomorrow.

Our energy saving guide, in partnership with Cadent and the Energy Savings Trust, explores this topic in more detail and provides further information and support for your organisation. Download your copy of Energy Saving Tips For Small Businesses today.

For more information and practical advice, check out our Energy Efficiency page.

Northern Gas Networks (NGN), the gas distributor for the North of England, is carrying out essential work in Hartlepool to replace the ageing metal pipework with new, more durable plastic pipes.

This work will ensure the continued safe and reliable supply of gas to customers in Hartlepool, keeping homes and businesses safe, warm and connected.

The project, which is expected to last until around the start of September, has been planned in collaboration with Hartlepool Borough Council. So that engineers can carry out the work safely and efficiently, and to protect the public, some traffic management measures have been put in place.

Work Details

Work on Wooler Road will start on Monday 20 July. To complete this work safely, Wooler Road will be closed from the junction of North Drive to the Grange Road roundabout.

A fully signed diversion will be in place.

Steven Storey, Site Manager at Northern Gas Networks, said: “We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused during these essential works, which we appreciate are taking place in a busy location. However, it’s vital we complete them to continue to maintain a safe and reliable gas supply to the residents of Hartlepool.”

For further information about the work please contact NGN’s Customer Care Team on 0800 040 7766 or email: [email protected].

Smell Gas or Suspect Carbon Monoxide?

Anyone that smells gas or suspects carbon monoxide should call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999. This line is in operation 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

Northern Gas Networks (NGN), the gas distributor for the North of England, is carrying out essential work in Hartlepool to replace the ageing metal pipework with new, more durable plastic pipes.

This work will ensure the continued safe and reliable supply of gas to customers in Hartlepool, keeping homes and businesses safe, warm and connected.

The project, which is expected to last until around the end of July, has been planned in collaboration with Hartlepool Borough Council. So that engineers can carry out the work safely and efficiently, and to protect the public, some traffic management measures have been put in place.

Work Details

Work on Granville Avenue began on Monday 29 June. To carry out the work safely, Granville Avenue will be closed between Grange Road and Tunstall Avenue, with no through route to Hart Lane.

Once work on Granville Avenue is complete, work will move to Elm Grove, where a one–way closure will be introduced. Access will be from Granville Avenue towards Wooler Road. 

A fully signed diversion will be in place.

Steven Storey, Site Manager at Northern Gas Networks, said: “We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused during these essential works, which we appreciate are taking place in a busy location. However, it’s vital we complete them to continue to maintain a safe and reliable gas supply to the residents of Hartlepool.”

For further information about the work please contact NGN’s Customer Care Team on 0800 040 7766 or email: [email protected].

Smell Gas or Suspect Carbon Monoxide?

Anyone that smells gas or suspects carbon monoxide should call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999. This line is in operation 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

We know that understanding important safety information about your gas supply is vital.

If English is not someone’s first language, it is harder for them to get the information that they need. Especially if there’s an unexpected interruption to their gas supply.

That is why we’ve invested in LanguageLine. It’s a professional interpreting service to help us communicate clearly and confidently with our customers in a wide range of languages.

Support in your language when you need it most

LanguageLine gives our teams access to trained interpreters who can support conversations in real time.

This means that if you – or someone you know – needs help and doesn’t speak English as a first language, we can arrange an interpreter.  They will then help you understand what is happening and what support is available. They’ll also tell you about any steps that need to take to stay safe and warm.

The service helps us explain important information about your gas supply more clearly.  This includes safety advice, updates during an interruption and details of the extra help available through the free Priority Services Register.

The Priority Services Register offers extra care for anyone who may be more vulnerable due to their medical or personal circumstances.

Empowering our teams

If anyone you know needs to speak with one of our frontline or Customer Care teams, and English isn’t their first language, we can arrange an interpreter to support the conversation. They will help communicate the information we need to share with you in a way that’s easier to understand.

This investment is part of our wider commitment to making our services accessible and inclusive for all customers, including those with additional communication needs.

We want every customer to feel informed, supported and reassured that help is available when they need it most.

If you think you or someone in your household may need extra support, take action and join the Priority Services Register.  That way, we’ll know what tailored support you might need if your gas supply is ever affected in the future.

Accessible support for our communities

We serve diverse communities across the North of England, and want to make sure our customers can access important information in a way that works for them.

Investing in LanguageLine is one of the ways we’re helping remove barriers to communication. The service is free to use and it helps us ensure more customers can understand vital information about their gas supply.

Our website also offers Recite Me.  This provides an online translation of our site as well as functions to aid website accessibility and visibility for our customers who may have additional communication needs.  You can even use it to read this article in another language!

To find out more about the support available, including the Priority Services Register, take a browse around our website.  Alternatively, you can contact our Customer Care team on [email protected] or call 0800 040 7766 if you need to speak to someone about becoming a Priority Services customers or using LanguageLine.

Northern Gas Networks (NGN), the gas distributor for the North of England, is carrying out essential work in Leeds to replace the ageing metal pipework with new, more durable plastic pipes.

This work will ensure the continued safe and reliable supply of gas to customers in Leeds, keeping homes and businesses safe, warm and connected.

The project, which began in January and is expected to last until around the end of September, has been planned in collaboration with Leeds City Council. So that engineers can carry out the work safely and efficiently, and to protect the public, some traffic management measures have been put in place.

Work Details

Temporary two-way traffic lights are in place on the A64/York Road. The lights will be in operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week during the work. They will be manned during peak times (7am-7pm) to minimise disruption.

Please note that all traffic measures will be suspended during Leeds Festival (27-30 August) to ensure full access for everyone attending.

All traffic management has been clearly signposted for motorists, and warning signs are in place advising people to allow extra time for travel.

Matt Purssell, Site Manager at Northern Gas Networks, said: “We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused during these essential works, which we appreciate are taking place in a busy location. However, it’s vital we complete them to continue to maintain a safe and reliable gas supply to the residents of Leeds.

“To minimise future disruption, we’re also carrying out replacement work on another section of pipe in this location, which we originally intended to replace next year. We worked closely with Leeds City Council on this to ensure the majority of the work will take place in the school holidays when we anticipate traffic levels to be lower.”

For further information about the work please contact NGN’s Customer Care Team on 0800 040 7766 or email: [email protected].

Smell Gas or Suspect Carbon Monoxide?

Anyone that smells gas or suspects carbon monoxide should call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999. This line is in operation 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

Northern Gas Networks (NGN), the gas distributor for the North of England, is carrying out essential work on Pelton Lane, Chester-le-Street to replace the ageing metal pipework with new, more durable plastic pipes.

This work will ensure the continued safe and reliable supply of gas to customers in Chester-le-Street, keeping homes and businesses safe, warm and connected.

The project, which is expected to last until around the start of September, has been planned in collaboration with Durham County Council. So that engineers can carry out the work safely and efficiently, and to protect the public, some traffic management measures have been put in place.

Work Details

From Wednesday 1 July, work will begin to replace the gas mains on Pelton Lane between Front Street, Pelton, and Roseberry Primary School.

So our engineers to complete the work as safely and quickly as possible, temporary two way traffic lights will be in place on Pelton Lane for the duration of the work.

Warning signage is in place, but some delays are expected, so motorists are advised to leave extra time for journeys.

Stuart Armin, Site Manager at Northern Gas Networks, said: “We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused during these essential works, which we appreciate are taking place in a busy location. However, it’s vital we complete them to continue to maintain a safe and reliable gas supply to the residents of Chester-le-Street.

“We want to assure residents and road users that we will be working hard to complete this scheme as safely and as quickly as possible.”

For further information about the work please contact NGN’s Customer Care Team on 0800 040 7766 or email: [email protected].

Smell Gas or Suspect Carbon Monoxide?

Anyone that smells gas or suspects carbon monoxide should call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999. This line is in operation 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

We’re carrying out essential work in Great Lumley, near Chester-le-Street, to replace ageing metal pipework with new, more durable plastic pipes. This work will ensure the continued safe and reliable supply of gas to customers in the area, keeping homes and businesses safe, warm and connected.

The project, which is expected to last until January 2027, has been planned in collaboration with Durham County Council. So that engineers can carry out the work safely and efficiently, and to protect members of the public, some traffic management measures will be put in place.

Work Details

From Thursday 11 June, our engineers will be on site on Front Street, with most of the work taking place on the footpath.

From Monday 17 August, temporary traffic lights will be in place at the junction of Front Street and Cocken Lane. We expect these lights to be in place for one week. The rest of the project will then revert to work mainly on footpaths in the village.

Chris Taylor, Site Manager at Northern Gas Networks said: “We would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused during these essential works. However, it is vital we complete them in order to continue to maintain a safe and reliable gas supply to the residents of Great Lumley.”

For further information about the work please contact NGN’s Customer Care Team on 0800 040 7766 or email: [email protected].

Smell Gas or Suspect Carbon Monoxide?

Anyone that smells gas or suspects carbon monoxide should call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999. This line is in operation 24-hours a day, seven days a week.