Many businesses in Teignmouth are struggling to fully operate today (September 25) following a huge power outage that has left much of the town centre reliant on temporary generators.

Card payment facilities, computer systems, fridges and bakery ovens were impacted by the power cut.

Shops including Poundland, Co-op, the Children’s Society and Age UK resorted to cash only payments.

Bakers at the Wee Shoppe Bakery were unable to make wholemeal loaves overnight, while Lidl’s entire bakery section was closed, along with half its refrigerators.

A failed trip switch following the power cut forced Joanna’s Lifestyle Café on Wellington Street to close as staff cannot serve any hot drinks.

‘We’re a new start-up and we’ve lost a day of earnings,’ said owner Jed Coates. ‘I’m gutted.’

The power cut was first reported at 8:30pm last night. National Grid confirmed around 3,400 properties in Teignmouth were without power just before 9pm.

Generators providing electrical power in the centre of Teignmouth after a power outage affected hundreds of residential properties and businesses in the town
Generators providing electrical power in the centre of Teignmouth after a power outage affected hundreds of residential properties and businesses in the town (Steve Pope/MDA)

Many homes and businesses experienced intermittent power during the evening. Staff at Ye Olde Jolly Sailor said they lost power for about ten minutes three times during the evening but were able to remain open. Pubs towards the station side of town were less lucky and The Brass and Wetherspoons were forced to close early.

At Teignmouth Pavilions around 150 cinema-goers were unable to finish watching Miss Saigon.  

Outages continued overnight but by 7am this morning power had been restored to all but 120 properties.

National Grid said the power cut had been caused by a fault on its underground network.

Generators providing electrical power in the centre of Teignmouth after a power outage affected hundreds of residential properties and businesses in the town
Generators providing electrical power in the centre of Teignmouth after a power outage affected hundreds of residential properties and businesses in the town (Steve Pope/MDA)

‘There are five generators at four sites providing power to homes and businesses while we carry out repairs to a high voltage cable,’ said a National Grid Electricity Distribution spokesperson. ‘A section of the cable has had to be replaced by engineers,’ the spokesperson added.

Workers began excavating a section of pavement outside the Teignmouth Pavilions this morning. National Grid expects the work to continue into this evening.

‘We’d like to thank customers in Teignmouth for their patience while we’ve been working to fix a fault on our underground network,’ a National Grid Electricity Distribution spokesperson said. ‘We apologise for the disruption this power failure has caused.’