Edinburgh ‘blackout’ as power cut hits 88,000 homes

Edinburgh residents have described how the city was plunged into a “blackout” following a power outage.

SP Energy Networks said around 88,000 customers across the Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders areas were affected by a power cut on Sunday evening due to a fault on its transmission network.

Power was restored to most customers within 20 minutes, with the remainder back on around 25 minutes later.

People in Edinburgh went on social media to discuss the city in darkness on Sunday evening.

Crime writer Ian Rankin tweeted: “40-minute power cut stretching from Edinburgh to Peebles.

“Spent 35 of those minutes finding torch and adding fresh batteries…”

TwentyTwentyWandrew also described the scene on Twitter, writing: “All the streets were out, no streetlights – just people with their phone torches scrabbling round their homes.

“No phone signal was alarming! Quite the black out in Edinburgh South.”

Some people expressed relief that they had received candles as Christmas presents or had their own supplies.

Louise Shanahan tweeted: “Creepy little blackout there… we’re back on now in South Edinburgh.

“Very disconcerting having no comms at all. Luckily we have 46272848 vanilla candles.”

An SP Energy Networks spokeswoman said: “Around 88,000 customers across the Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders areas were affected by a power cut for a short time this evening due to a fault on our transmission network.

“Power was restored to most customers within 20 minutes, with the remainder back on around 25 minutes later.

“We’re sorry for any inconvenience caused and thank everyone affected for their understanding while we worked to restore supplies.”