Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) begins £1.2m upgrade work to replace Wester Ross substation and improve power supply reliability in Lochcarron, Slumbay, Noth Strome, Ardanaeskan, Strathcarron, Achintee and Attadale

A £1.2 million project that includes the construction of a new electricity substation will improve the reliability of the power supply to hundreds of Wester Ross homes, engineers believe.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) was speaking after work got under way on efforts to upgrade the local grid in the Lochcarron area.

It believes the six-month programme of works will boost the "resilience and strength" of power supplies to roughly 600 homes in Lochcarron, Slumbay, North Strome, Ardanaeskan, Strathcarron, Achintee and Attadale.

The project will see the complete replacement of the existing outdoor substation at Achintee, which is reaching the end of its operational life. The new substation will be housed indoors at a new Lochcarron site, which SSEN says will provide an additional layer of protection.

SSEN will also be installing new underground cable along the A896, removing overhead power lines through the Tullich Industrial Estate and replacing it with underground cable.

In Achintee, engineers will install a mobile generation hook up point to assist with the faster restoration of supplies in the event of future faults on the network.

Nik Wheeler, Head of SSEN’s Highlands and Islands region, said: “Our Highland region covers some of the most remote and rural locations the country has to offer, and our role as a responsible network operator is to ensure homes and businesses have the power they need, both now and in the future.

“This £1.2 million investment, including a brand new substation at Lochcarron, will go a long way to ensuring a safe, secure and reliable supply of electricity to our customers, with upgraded equipment allowing for faster restoration of power supplies should a fault occur on the rural network.

“We’d like to reassure our customers we’ll do all we can to minimise disruption as our engineers work on this substantial upgrade to future-proof the electricity network for years to come.”

While disruption will be kept to a minimum while engineers work, SSEN would like to remind customers they can register for SSEN’s Priority Services Register (PSR) if they require extra assistance during a power cut. People can qualify for additional support if they:

• Are shielding during the coronavirus pandemic
• Are deaf or hard of hearing
• Have a disability
• Live with children under five
• Are blind or partially sighted
• Have a chronic illness
• Use medical equipment/aids reliant on electricity
• Are over 60

To find out more about the PSR, click here or call 0800 294 3259.

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