Key Points
- Summary of Incident: A sudden loss of power has occurred in parts of the Bury and Bolton areas, causing some homes to lose their electricity supply.
- Areas Affected: Properties located in Radcliffe and Ainsworth found themselves without electricity.
- Number of Outages: Data shows that about 70 homes and properties are affected by the power outage.
- Cause of Outage: It has been established that the outage was caused by a fault in an underground cable.
- When Did It Occur and When Will Power Be Restored? It appears that there were faults reported around 8:00 am. The restoration is expected to be completed by 2:00 pm.
- Frustrated Residents: The local community is annoyed at the ongoing issues regarding their infrastructure and electricity losses in the Ainsworth area.
Bolton (Bolton Today) September 5, 2026 - Residents across parts of Bury and Bolton woke up to dark homes and unpowered appliances this morning following an unexpected electrical outage that has severed power to dozens of local properties. The sudden blackout, which primarily impacts households in Radcliffe and Ainsworth, was caused by a fault in an underground electricity cable, prompting an emergency response from utility engineers dispatched to repair the line.
According to official figures released by the regional distribution network operator, SP Electricity North West, 70 properties have been directly impacted by the outage. The fault was first logged shortly after 8:00 am, leaving many residents without access to basic domestic power, light, or heating appliances during their morning routines. Network engineers were mobilized quickly and sent to the affected locations, where specialist teams are currently working on-site to locate and repair the damaged underground infrastructure. Electricity North West estimates that full power should be safely restored to all affected customers by around 2:00 pm today.
As reported by reporter James Chittick of The Bolton News, a local resident who contacted The Bury Times expressed deep frustration over the disruption, stating:
“I woke up to grab a coffee to find the electricity was off yet again! Now, according to the website, it won't be on until 2pm”.
Highlighting what they perceived as persistent reliability issues in the local grid, the resident added:
“What is it with the electricity in Ainsworth, I don't know how long it's been off! It's just so annoying as we seem to experience a power cut so often”.
What Caused the Power Cut in Bury and Bolton?
Underground electrical supply systems rely on high-voltage and low-voltage cable networks buried beneath roads and footpaths. When an underground fault occurs, it is typically caused by natural wear and tear, environmental factors such as moisture ingress, or accidental physical damage during ground excavation work. Because underground cables are buried beneath ground level, repair crews must first run diagnostic tests to pinpoint the exact location of the damage before digging down to repair or replace the failed section.
Electricity North West confirmed that the morning blackout stemmed directly from a sudden underground cable fault. In such events, distribution network operators must isolate the damaged segment of the cable to allow engineers to work safely while simultaneously attempting to re-route electrical power through alternative operational circuits where possible.
Which Postcode Areas in Radcliffe and Ainsworth Are Affected?
The localized nature of the outage means that specific streets within the Radcliffe and Ainsworth townships have borne the brunt of the power loss. Ainsworth, a village situated between Bury and Bolton, along with adjacent residential zones in Radcliffe, share interconnected network lines that feed from regional substations.
While Electricity North West monitors live postcode maps to provide real-time updates to affected bill-payers, residents across these postcodes have experienced complete disruption to home lighting, internet routers, and kitchen equipment. Network operators routinely advise affected domestic customers to keep refrigerator and freezer doors firmly closed during an ongoing power cut to preserve perishable food items until supply is re-established.
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When Will Power Be Fully Restored to Affected Homes?
According to timeframes published by Electricity North West, repair teams expect to have the power restored by 2:00 pm today. However, distribution operators warn that estimated restoration times can shift depending on what engineers encounter once excavation and cable splicing begin.
If an underground fault is located beneath complex paved surfaces or requires significant excavation work to access safely, restoration times may be extended. Conversely, if power can be re-routed via alternative supply lines, households may see their supply restored ahead of the initial target hour.
How Can Residents Contact Electricity North West During an Outage?
Residents affected by electrical supply losses in Greater Manchester can track live incidents and communicate directly with electricity network operators through several official channels:
- National Emergency Number: Calling 105 connects callers directly to their local electricity network operator free of charge from any landline or mobile device.
- Online Power Cut Checkers: Electricity North West maintains a live interactive outage map where customers can input their postcode to receive incident reference numbers, engineer status reports, and updated restoration times.
- Priority Services Register: Vulnerable individuals—including the elderly, families with infants, or people reliant on electrical medical equipment—are encouraged to register for priority support during unplanned utility disruptions.
As engineers continue work at the fault site, local residents in Radcliffe and Ainsworth are advised to monitor official network updates until full restoration is confirmed later this afternoon.