The electricity network serving homes and businesses in the north-east of Scotland will receive a £1.9 million upgrade, as Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) delivers two major investment projects in Elgin and Macduff.
As part of a £5 million programme of investment in Moray and the north-east coast, over 11,200 properties will benefit from a smarter, more resilient electricity network ahead of winter, with works expected to be completed later this month.
In Elgin, engineers are progressing a £700,000 project at Ashgrove substation to replace equipment installed in the 1960s. The replacement of ageing equipment with modern infrastructure will ensure a continued secure and reliable supply of electricity for almost 4,700 residents and local businesses.
SSEN is also investing £1.2 million in the local substation powering the coastal town of Macduff by replacing transformers and switchgear with new, upgraded equipment. This investment will boost the resilience of the network serving over 6,500 properties in the local area and allow for future growth in electricity demand.
In both towns, engineers are installing automated equipment to significantly reduce disruption to customers during a power cut as part of an additional £2 million investment across SSEN's North Caledonia region, including Moray, Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen city.
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 SSEN's North Caledonia region, said:
"We're delighted to progress two major projects as part of our £5 million investment programme in Moray and the north-east coast, delivering vital upgrades to equipment installed in the 1960s which is reaching the end of its operational life."
"Our priority is to ensure a safe, secure and reliable supply of electricity for our customers, and this investment goes a long way to delivering on that commitment for thousands of existing homes and businesses, as well as those looking to connect to our network in the coming years."