Homes and businesses across Moray and the north-east coast will benefit from a stronger, more resilient power network, as local electricity network operator announces a £5 million investment programme.
Teams from Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) will work over the next 18 months to upgrade the electricity network delivering power across the region, installing innovative equipment to restore supplies quicker in the event of a power cut.
This year, engineers are working in Elgin, with recent works completed in Cumming Street to upgrade the local substation delivering power to surrounding properties. By the end of this year, SSEN's teams will replace equipment at Ashgrove substation, installing flood prevention equipment to protect local power supplies should heavy rainfall and flooding occur. Macduff is also set to benefit from this investment, as engineers replace switchgear and transformers near the Moray coast.
Teams will move to Aberlour, Dufftown and Lossiemouth next year, replacing essential electrical equipment at local substations and upgrading overhead power lines serving Elgin and Aberlour to improve the reliability of power supplies, reinforcing the high voltage network powering local communities.
As part of this investment programme, over £600,000 will be spent installing automated equipment in 10 locations across Moray* to significantly reduce disruption to customers during a power cut. The innovative, self-adapting automation system detects when, and where, there is a fault on the network, choosing the most suitable alternative cable to switch supplies to or sending a signal to the main control room where engineers can restore power at the touch of a button.
Michael Hilferty, Head of Region for North Caledonia at SSEN, said:
"We regularly invest in our network, upgrading and strengthening the overhead lines, underground cables and substations powering homes and businesses across our region to deliver a safe and secure supply of electricity to our customers."
"This £5 million investment across Moray and the north-east coast will improve the service we provide our customers, with automated equipment being installed to reduce disruption, ensuring local communities receive the electricity they need to power their lives."
* Automated equipment, known as automation, will be installed in Forres, Elgin (Ashgrove, Bilbohall and Cumming Street areas), Burghead, Fochabers, Keith, Rothes and Buckie.