The second stage of the £375,000 investment by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) is under way to improve and strengthen the resilience of the electricity network serving the Berkshire village of Ball Hill.

The first phase of the programme of works upgraded 25 kilometres of overhead lines and improved the security of supply to local areas.

Following engagement with the local parish council, work on the second stage of the works to refurbish and upgrade existing equipment will begin immediately and be completed within a month.

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 to future-proof its infrastructure for customers' changing demands. This is part of SSEN's "you said, we did" approach to investing in its vital infrastructure.

John Wright, Network Construction Manager for this Thames Valley project said:

"We identified the village of Ball Hill for this upgrade to boost the resilience of the local power supply and ensure its reliability for years to come."

"I would like to thank the local community for their patience during the coronavirus lockdown, which caused a delay to the start of the second phase of this work. We have comprehensive safety measures in place to keep our staff and our customers safe while these works are carried out and we look forward to finishing the work in a timely manner."

"In the current climate, we are unable to hold a public engagement event so that residents and business owners can meet the SSEN project team and discuss the works, but we want our customers to know that we are available to address any questions raised. I would also encourage anyone who could benefit from SSEN's additional services, such as the Priority Services Register to sign up."

SSEN's Priority Services Register provides free additional support for customers who may become vulnerable during a power cut. Customers can qualify 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

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 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.