Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) is inviting Emsworth residents and business owners to meet the project team behind a £420,000 upgrade to the area's power supply.

Commencing on Monday 12 August, the programme of works in the Hampshire town will see the replacement of existing underground cables - which have now reached the end of their working life, to help make the local electricity supply more robust and ensure it meets the demands of local homes and businesses.

To allow those who live and work in the area to discuss the works and what they'll mean for the town, the project team will be setting up a stand at the corner of Bridge Road between 17:00 - 19:00 on Tuesday 13 August 2019, to meet and greet all interested parties.

SSEN's project manager for the Emsworth upgrade, Simon King, said: "Previous excavations highlighted to our engineers that the underground cables supplying the area in and around Bridge Road were showing signs of damage and wear, so to ensure a resilient power supply to the area, SSEN is investing £420,000 to replace the cables along West Street, Havant Road and in to Warblington Road.

"While we will undertake to minimise disruption during these works, ensuring that the use of roads, access routes and driveways will operate as usual, SSEN will have to temporarily close the entrance to Warblington Road to use as a safe area for welfare facilities and storage."

"We'd also like to reassure our customers that during these essential upgrade works there are no plans to interrupt their power supply."

Letter drops providing information on the Emsworth upgrade project have been distributed to over 300 homes and businesses in the vicinity of the works and all are welcome to meet the team at their Bridge Road stand on Tuesday 13 August.

Simon added: "At SSEN, we appreciate that sometimes the essential works we carry out can cause a temporary inconvenience, so we want to speak directly to the community and give everyone who lives or work locally the chance to ask us about the project, raising any concerns or questions they might have."

"We also want to take the opportunity to show people the new cable that we'll be using for the upgrade, as we'll be replacing a more traditional type of cable with a new, more environmentally-friendly version in line with SSEN's sustainability and environmental values."

In addition, the team will be talking to customers about SSEN's free Priority Services Register that provides additional assistance to anyone who might be vulnerable, should they experience a power cut.

Customers can qualify for SSEN's Priority Services Register if they:

  • Are dependent on electricity for home medical care
  • Have a chronic illness or short term medical condition
  • Are disabled
  • Have special communication needs
  • Have children under the age of five
  • Are over the age of 60

By registering for SSEN's PSR, customers will be proactively contacted to warn them of potential bad weather to help them prepare and to offer extra support where required. SSEN's teams will also keep in close and regular contact with its PSR customers during network outages to check they are getting the help they need.

To find out more about the PSR, click here, or call 0800 294 3259.