Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has opened the doors of its Oxford depot to show Robert Courts MP how it works to serve the local community.
The MP for Witney and West Oxfordshire spent time touring the depot, learning about the roles of the various departments working to keep the lights on for his constituents and SSEN's 570,000 customers across the region.
In addition to information on how SSEN works to enhance and protect the local environment during projects and upgrades, builds resilience in to the local electricity network as homes and businesses in area develop, and works in the community to understand the needs of its customers, the visit allowed Mr Courts to see how SSEN responds to power cuts and severe weather events.
SSEN's Head of Region, Ian Reynolds explains more:
"The summer months give us the ideal opportunity to invite guests - such as Mr Courts - to our depot to see the jobs we do, throughout the year, in the communities where we, and our customers, live and work. Our preparations and project work through these months help us build the resilience of the local electricity network in preparation for the possibility of adverse winter weather and the increased possibility of power cuts that this weather can bring."
"We've also been able to show Mr Courts how we put our customers at the heart of everything we do, with schemes such as our Priority Services Register and the Resilient Communities Fund."
"We very much hope that Mr Courts will be able to join us again during the winter, so we can fully involve him in the services that we've discussed today and that provide our customers with much-needed reassurance and assistance during unplanned power outages."
While touring the depot, Mr Courts met Colin Jackson, an SSEN engineer retiring after nearly 40 years' service, who spoke of the loyalty that employees feel towards the company and the local community.
Robert Courts MP, said:
"I was greatly interested to see first-hand the work of the SSEN team in Yarnton, who provide the electricity infrastructure for West Oxfordshire and beyond."
"I was impressed by the team's enthusiasm, and was interested to learn about the work they do, often with long hours and in poor weather, to ensure that West Oxfordshire residents have a reliable power supply."
"SSEN's work outside of their direct maintenance of our power supply is a welcome asset to the local community. I have heard examples from constituents about members of their team helping to look after elderly and infirm people in isolated rural areas, making sure they have medication that they need if their power is affected, and helping them through difficult times."
"I look forward to working with SSEN going forward to help forge closer links with our local communities, and to visiting again during the high demand Winter months."
For further information on the Priority Services Register, SSEN's Resilient Communities Fund and many of the other services provided to customers across SSEN's electricity network in central southern England, please go to our website www.ssen.co.uk.