POWER TO THE PEOPLE: Energy supply restored across Ross as Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) make final push after storms
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ROSS-SHIRE residents are now all back on electricity supply following last weekend's storms, according to the distribution company that has been battling to restore links all week.
Teams from Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) have continued to work throughout the night and this morning, reconnecting the final homes affected by the extreme weather of Storms Malik and Corrie.
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Wind gusts in excess of 90mph were recorded in Aberdeenshire as Storms Malik and Corrie tracked across the region over the weekend.
As of 12.30pm today, SSEN has restored power to over 120,000 homes across the North of Scotland, including all faults reported as a consequence of Storm Malik, with around 50 properties remaining off supply across the low voltage network in Aberdeenshire, related to Storm Corrie.
SSEN’s teams remain committed to reconnecting these final customers as quickly and safely as possible. Engineers and overhead line teams will continue to respond to all known faults and restore power to all remaining homes today.
SSEN’s customer support teams are in contact with all customers known to be without power to offer further support where required.
A number of additional localised low voltage faults have been identified through the restoration process in the last 24 hours and teams have conducted line patrols to ensure visibility of all power interruptions and network damage at a local level.
Customers who remain without power and have neither reported their fault or been in contact with SSEN and should contact the 105 power cut helpline.
SSEN continues to enhance resources and welfare provisions in the region, working closely with Local Resilience Partnerships to help coordinate community response and provide support to customers affected.
Over 500 additional operational team-members, from other areas of SSEN and partners across the UK and Ireland, are assisting restoration efforts.
Customers unable to access welfare facilities and who remain off supply may claim back the cost of meals up to £15 per person. Customers are being asked to keep copies of receipts for any claims.
SSEN continues to urge customers not to approach any damage to its equipment and instead, report it to SSEN by calling 105 or via its Power Track App and engineers will investigate as soon as possible.
Richard Gough, Director of Distribution System Operations at SSEN, said: “I would like to thank customers for their continued patience and reassure them that every effort is being made to restore their power as quickly and safely as possible. We continue to work closely with local resilience partnerships in Aberdeenshire to support the welfare effort for customers who remain off supply.
“Conditions have been extremely challenging for our teams, but we are continuing to work throughout today to safely connect the final few homes. I would also like to recognise the effort and dedication of SSEN teams and engineers from distribution network operators from across the UK and Ireland who continue to work hard in difficult conditions to restore power safely to communities across the North of Scotland.”
See this week's Ross-shire Journal for a page of photos from the storm aftermath
