A £150,000 package of maintenance and improvements work is being carried out across a section of Maidenhead's electricity infrastructure this month by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN).

The programme of works to upgrade the network in the Berkshire market town is already underway and will improve and strengthen the resilience of the electricity network serving the local area's 62,000 homes and businesses, ahead of the winter months and for years to come.

Network reliability is a key priority for SSEN and the communities it serves. Following a series of engagements with customers, SSEN took the decision to invest in Maidenhead's power supplies and future-proof its infrastructure for customers' changing demands; part of SSEN's "you said, we did" approach to investing in its vital infrastructure.

The upgrade project will run throughout September and will focus on the replacement and refurbishment of the existing infrastructure in White Waltham and the surrounding areas, alongside a programme of tree-cutting.

John Wright, Network Construction Manager for the project said:

"Maidenhead is a thriving area and we want to ensure that we build and maintain a network that fits the needs of its residents and business owners now, while looking to the future and how those needs will develop in coming years."

"While these works are part of our commitment to investing in our infrastructure to boost its resilience during adverse weather and winter months, they will also contribute to helping Berkshire achieve its net-zero ambitions, so that as more of our customers turn to using electric vehicles, they have the supply and infrastructure that's fit for purpose."

Customers have been made aware of Planned Service Interruptions (PSI) well in advance of these works and SSEN is aware that customers may generally have concerns relating to power cuts during this time. To assist with this, SSEN has extended its Priority Services Register (PSR) to those who are categorised at 'high risk' and 'extremely high risk' of severe illness from coronavirus, so they are now eligible to sign up for additional support through the free, tailored service.

Customers are also eligible for SSEN's Priority Services Register if they:

  • Are deaf or hard of hearing
  • Have a disability
  • Live with children under five
  • Are blind or partially sighted
  • Have a chronic illness
  • Use medical equipment/aids reliant on electricity
  • Are over 60
  • Would benefit from PSR services for any other reason, even if temporarily

To find out more, please go to the Priority Services Register page on our website: www.ssen.co.uk/psr, where SSEN's multi-language PSR leaflets can also be accessed and downloaded.

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) expects electricity demand to double by 2050 as more and more customers shift to electric vehicles (EV) and heating. SSEN is working to understand the ambitions of the communities it serves, and to enable this transition. SSEN has published Accelerating a Green Recovery setting out ten measures for the Government to ensure no communities are left behind in the transition to net zero carbon emissions.