Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) is investing £375,000 to upgrade and strengthen the electricity network that serves Auchterarder High Street.
SSEN is replacing approximately 1km of low voltage underground cable in Auchterarder High Street as part of its ongoing commitment to provide a safe and secure supply of electricity to its customers. The works, which will take place between Rossie Place and Ruthven Street, are vital to improving the reliability of the service it provides to residents and businesses alike.
The essential works have been planned following repeated power outages affecting homes and businesses in the area over the past three years. This investment delivers on one of SSEN's business plan commitments which aims to improve network reliability in areas identified as having the greatest impact and improvement for customers.
Following engagement with Perth and Kinross Council, SSEN's engineers, in partnership with its Principal Contractor PMK Civil Engineering, will commence works on Monday 9 October, continuing in phases until expected completion in March 2018. Based on feedback from the community, SSEN has committed to suspending work to minimise disruption during Remembrance weekend on 11/12 November, for the Christmas Lights Switch On event and will demobilise between 20 December and 10 January for the festive period.
To ensure the safety of the workers and residents, temporary traffic lights and on-street parking restrictions will be utilised during phases of the works. SSEN will always provide advanced notification of this to keep customers and business-owners informed at all times.
Graeme Stewart, Head of Region at SSEN, said:
"We're investing in the network to ensure our customers have the power they need, both now and in the future. As a responsible network operator, it is vital we engage with the community to ensure they are kept informed and updated of our plans as we start essential works to improve the service we provide to our customers in Auchterarder."
"Letters will be delivered to homes and businesses to inform customers of our plans and we will continue to engage with the community to ensure their feedback is heard and considered as the project progresses. We want to take every practical step to minimise disruption and discuss any specific requirements residential customers and businesses may have."
"Whilst we recognise there may be some local disruption during the works, over the long term our investment will provide a more reliable supply of electricity to our customers, greatly minimising future disruption by improving the reliability of this circuit."
"We would like to thank the local community for their constructive feedback to date and look forward to further engagement as we take forward our plans to improve the network reliability in the local area."
SSEN will be holding a drop-in public consultation event on Thursday 12 October between 10am and 8pm at The Aytoun Hall and is inviting local community members and interested stakeholders to come along and speak to the teams involved for more information and to provide feedback.