Electricity upgrade work in Wester Ross set to prepare area for winter; SSEN £330,000 revamp to protect supply to people in Aultbea, Gairloch, Badachro, Poolewe and Dundonnell
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HOMES and businesses across an area of Wester Ross are to benefit from an upgrade aimed at making their power supplies ready for winter.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) says the £330,000 refurbishment to the local electricity network is expected to run until August 6.
The replacement of electricity poles and cutting back of trees and vegetation aims to reduce the chance of power cuts during winter.
The work will see teams working along a 33km route, replacing the wooden electricity poles carrying overhead power lines between Kinlochewe, Kerry Falls and Aultbea.
Almost 2000 properties in Aultbea, Gairloch, Badachro, Poolewe and Dundonnell will benefit from the investment, with SSEN’s teams also carrying out a programme of essential maintenance at SSEN’s Kerry Falls and Aultbea substations to ensure a robust and resilient network ahead of winter.
SSEN’s tree-cutting teams will be clearing trees and vegetation away from the lines which is a key part of the company’s year-round fault prevention programme, as the high winds and storms which can sweep across this part of the country bring the potential to blow trees and branches into the electricity equipment and cause power cuts.
SSEN’s project manager, John Shanks, said: “We invest in our network all year round to make sure it’s in the best possible condition to provide a safe, secure and reliable supply of electricity to our customers.
“Not only will this project see new wooden electricity poles installed, it also provides us with a great opportunity to carry out additional work which will boost the resilience of the network, minimising the risk of power cuts this winter and for years to come.”
To ensure the ongoing safety of members of the local community and SSEN engineers as they work, power is being turned off temporarily in the areas where work is being carried out.
To minimise any disruption to local homes and businesses along the route, SSEN is using temporary mobile generation to keep the power flowing as the work progresses.
Pamela Harvey, SSEN’s customer relationship manager for the Highlands and Islands, said: “We’ve planned this project to ensure disruption to our customers is kept to a minimum as we work, but I’d like to remind customers of our Priority Services Register which offers free additional support to those who need it most during planned or unplanned interruption to supplies. I’d urge anyone who feels they may benefit from extra help to visit our website or get in touch with our dedicated priority services team.”
To find out more about the PSR, click here or call 0800 294 3259.
