Key Points
- Power cuts hit Horwich areas suddenly.
- Astley Bridge residents lost electricity.
- Outages lasted hours into night-time.
- Electricity North West dispatched crews.
- Locals report cold homes disruptions.
Horwich (Bolton Today) 14 February 2026 - Residents in Horwich and Astley Bridge, suburbs of Bolton in Greater Manchester, experienced widespread power cuts starting late evening on 15 February 2026, plunging thousands into darkness amid freezing temperatures. Electricity North West, the region's distribution network operator, confirmed the outages affected over 5,000 properties, with restoration efforts underway through the night. Local authorities urged calm as emergency services handled reports of vulnerable households impacted by the sudden blackout.
What caused the power cuts in Horwich?
The power disruptions in Horwich and Astley Bridge stemmed from a fault on a high-voltage overhead line, exacerbated by high winds and wintry conditions sweeping across northern England. As reported by Sarah Thompson of the Bolton News, Electricity North West spokesperson stated that “a fault on our 33kV network in the Horwich area caused the outage, likely due to weather-related damage to overhead lines”. This incident aligns with broader challenges faced by the UK's power grid during the 2026 winter season, where storm-force gusts have repeatedly strained infrastructure.
According to Mark Jenkins of the Manchester Evening News, initial investigations pointed to a fallen tree branch making contact with live wires near Lee Hill in Horwich, triggering automatic safety shutdowns to prevent wider failures. No injuries were reported from the fault itself, but the rapid onset left many unprepared.
How long did the power cuts last?
Outages began around 10:30 PM on 15 February 2026, with some areas in Astley Bridge regaining power by 2 AM, while Horwich town centre endured cuts until past 4 AM. As covered by Emma Patel of BBC North West, Electricity North West's live outage map showed 1,200 properties still offline at midnight, dropping to 300 by dawn.
Patel reported the company's assurance: “Our teams worked overnight to isolate the fault and reroute power, aiming for full restoration by morning”.
In Horwich's Chorley New Road area, residents faced the longest blackouts, exceeding five hours. David Hargreaves of the Lancashire Telegraph noted, affected households included sheltered accommodation where backup generators failed after 90 minutes.
Hargreaves cited a council officer: “Power returned staggered; some streets lit up first, others waited until engineers manually reset substations”.
By midday on 16 February, all supplies were restored, though frustrations lingered over delayed updates.
Which areas in Horwich were worst hit?
Horwich's epicentre lay around the town centre and industrial estates off Chorley New Road, where factories and shops shuttered abruptly. As detailed by Rachel Brooks of the Bolton Wanderer community newsletter, over 2,500 homes from Wood Street to the railway station lost power, halting train signals briefly and stranding commuters. Astley Bridge, just eastwards, saw outages ripple through residential zones like Seymour Road and Bolton Road, impacting 2,800 properties.
Liam Forrester of Sky News North reported, vulnerable spots included care homes on Thicket Ford Road in Astley Bridge, where battery-powered lights flickered as supplies dipped. Lesser-affected fringes near Blackrod escaped full cuts, receiving only flickering voltage dips.
What is Electricity North West doing?
Electricity North West mobilised 20 fault crews from depots in Leigh and Preston, deploying cherry pickers and thermal imaging to pinpoint damage under cover of darkness.
As reported by Nina Kaur of the Guardian's regional desk, the operator issued a statement via its app and hotline: “We apologise for the inconvenience and thank customers for their patience while we safely restore supplies”.
Temporary generators were rushed to two Astley Bridge medical centres by 1 AM.
According to Paul Whittaker of ITV Granada, proactive trimming of overhead lines in high-risk zones had been scheduled post-2025 storms, but this fault occurred outside treated areas. Customers were directed to the 'My Power' app for real-time maps, logging 450 calls to the helpline peak at 11 PM.
Elderly and disabled residents topped the list of those hardest hit, with Bolton Council activating its severe weather protocol for welfare checks. As per Fiona McLeod of Age UK Greater Manchester, over 150 pensioners in Astley Bridge bungalows reported hypothermia risks, prompting hot meal deliveries from volunteer teams.
McLeod stated: “Power loss means no electric blankets or stairlifts; our helpline lit up with distress calls”.
Small businesses in Horwich suffered stock spoilage, notably Greggs bakery on Bridge Street losing £2,000 in pastries. Reported by Chris Devlin of the Bolton Business Journal, traders like corner shops faced till failures, resorting to cash-only amid panic buying of torches. Families with newborns in Seymour Park endured cold nights, with parents boiling kettles on camping stoves borrowed from neighbours.
Why are power cuts recurring in 2026?
This Horwich incident marks the third major outage in Greater Manchester since New Year 2026, fuelling debates on ageing grid infrastructure vulnerable to climate extremes.
As analysed by Dr. Elena Vasquez of the University of Manchester in the i Newspaper, overhead lines installed pre-1980s lack modern insulation against gales exceeding 50mph.
Vasquez explained: “2026's wetter winters amplify corrosion; substations overload faster under demand peaks”.
Oliver Grant of The Times regional supplement noted, Ofgem's 2025 review highlighted Electricity North West's 92% reliability score, yet rural feeders like those serving Astley Bridge lag urban ones. Government subsidies for net-zero transitions divert funds from maintenance, per energy analysts. Critics point to privatisation legacies, where profit margins eclipse upgrades.
What do residents say about the outages?
Frustration boiled over on social media, with Horwich residents venting on Facebook groups like 'Horwich Matters'.
Astley Bridge mum Sarah Jenkins posted: “Kids couldn't charge iPads for school; fridges thawed—Electricity North West's texts came too late”.
Reported by vlogger Katie Marsden of Bolton Uncovered YouTube, a street party of sorts emerged on Lee Lane, with barbecues lighting the night.
Marsden captured neighbour Dave Potts: “United us, but enough's enough—time for underground wires”.
Pet owners fretted over fish tanks and reptiles, one losing a £300 iguana to chill.
How is Bolton Council responding?
Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council convened an emergency session at 9 AM on 16 February, pledging £50,000 hardship grants for affected low-income homes. As per council leader Nick Williams in a statement to the Bolton News, liaison officers visited 400 sites, distributing blankets and charging packs.
Williams affirmed: “We're pressing Electricity North West for compensation timelines and a Horwich-specific action plan”.
Vulnerable registers were cross-checked with GP records, airlifting two elderly to hospitals with respiratory issues. Councillor Linda Barlow told the Lancashire Post, partnerships with British Gas connected 200 disconnections temporarily. Community centres in Astley Bridge hosted warming hubs till Sunday evening.
Electricity North West outlined a £2.5 billion 2026-2030 investment blueprint, prioritising Horwich's overhead-to-underground conversions. As detailed by energy correspondent Raj Patel of The Telegraph, smart grid tech with AI fault prediction rolls out this spring, tested in pilot Bolton zones.
Patel quoted executives: “Drones now inspect lines weekly; battery storage at substations buffers peaks”.
National Grid ESO pushes demand-side response apps, rewarding off-peak usage. Local MP Sir Richard Short advocated in Parliament for mandatory weather-proofing grants. Residents can join priority lists via utility portals.
Are there compensation claims available?
Under Ofgem rules, households enduring over 12 hours qualify for £145 automatic credits, applied by 28 February. As explained by consumer advisor Helen Croft of Which? in their online bulletin, businesses claim up to £8,000 via the Guaranteed Standards scheme if notified poorly.
Croft advised: “Log outage reference numbers now; escalate to Energy Ombudsman if denied”.
Astley Bridge action group petitions for goodwill gestures like free bills. Over 1,200 claims logged by noon 16 February.
Met Office yellow warnings for 60mph gusts battered the Pennines on 15 February 2026, dumping sleet across Bolton. Forecaster Ian Reynolds told the BBC Weather team, rain-laden winds snapped weakened branches post-2025 gales.
Reynolds warned: “More disruptions likely till midweek; secure gardens”.
Indoor temps plummeted to 8°C in unpowered homes.
How does this compare to past outages?
Horwich's 2026 cut echoes 2018's Storm Ciara blackout affecting 10,000, but quicker fixes reflect improved logistics. Historian Prof. Greg Thorn of Bolton University told Local History Journal, 1970s strikes caused week-long darkness. Stats show 15% drop in outage minutes since 2020 upgrades.
Bolton at Home housing trust dispatched 50 generators, prioritising 300 flagged addresses. CEO Marie Gallagher said in council minutes, partnerships with Red Cross supplied hot water urns.
Gallagher emphasised: “No one left in cold; 24/7 helplines active”.
Schools waived uniforms next day for chilled kids.
Business fallout from the power cuts
Horwich Lidl supermarket discarded £5,000 perishables; frozen aisles melted by 1 AM. Store manager Ali Khan told the Business Desk, insurance covers losses, but footfall dipped 30%. Gyms like PureGym Astley Bridge refunded classes, citing equipment shutdowns. Pubs pivoted to candles, boosting trade ironically.
Bolton West MP Julia Lomax (Conservative) tabled urgent Commons question on grid resilience. Lomax tweeted, demanding “immediate inquiry into 2026's third outage cluster”. Labour's shadow energy secretary slammed delays, vowing tougher regulations if elected.
Electricity North West's RIIO-2 submission eyes £300 million for Bolton networks by 2028. Regulator Ofgem previewed in annual report, incentives tie bonuses to 99.5% uptime. Community funds allocate £1 million for resilient microgrids in Astley Bridge.