Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) is asking its customers and members of its communities to report any damage they see to the electricity network and to stay safe around electrical equipment.
The request from the network operator comes after a car hit an electricity substation on Towerhill Road, Inverness last month causing extensive damage to the brick walls protecting the public from the electrical equipment inside.
Unfortunately, this incident was not reported to SSEN or Police Scotland at the time, but luckily a member of the public called SSEN's customer contact centre to report the damage. Engineers attended the scene to check the equipment was intact, and put up temporary fencing to make the area safe.
Colin Pirie, Head of Region for the Highlands and Islands at SSEN said: "I would urge members of the public to report any damage they see to the electricity network or substations immediately to ensure our teams can make the area safe as quickly as possible."
"In this instance, we were lucky the electrical equipment was not damaged, but two brick walls were brought down, causing an electrical safety hazard if anyone had approached. We want to safely power our communities and we are appealing to the public to keep us informed if any accidents do occur."
SSEN's customers can call national helpline 105 to report power cuts as well as report damage to electricity power lines, substations or equipment that could put themselves, or someone else, in danger.
If it is a safety emergency, customers are urged to dial 999 and ask for the police who will contact SSEN directly.
Things to look out for:
- Damaged or fallen power lines
- Damage or interference with electricity substations
- Vehicles or construction activities too close to power lines
- Damaged or exposed electricity cables
- Trees too close to power lines or substations
For more information, visit ssen.co.uk/safety/.