SSEN continuing to make progress reconnecting power to communities
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Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) continues to make progress in reconnecting customers and communities in response to the widespread and extensive damage caused by Storm Arwen, the worst storm to hit the north-east of Scotland for decades.
As its teams work to reconnect the remaining homes still off supply, SSEN has enhanced its welfare support provisions, recognising the continued impact on affected customers.
Further progress was achieved overnight, with an additional 2000 customers reconnected, including the main network supply to the following locations: Boddam, Tarland, Hatton, Kincardine O'Neil, Kintore, Dinnet, Kinellar, Deanston, Dess, Kilry, Rothiemay
Since the start of Storm Arwen at around lunchtime on Friday, power has been restored to over 105,000 customers in total, with 15,000 currently off supply. This includes customers in the following regions: Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire: 8507; Moray: 3125; Angus: 1698; and Perthshire: 1533
The remaining high voltage faults (representing the lines that connect larger population centres), are being worked on throughout the day and good progress continues to be made. It is targeting the majority of these faults to be restored today.
For localised faults, restoration times are likely to extend beyond today and customers are encouraged to explore alternative arrangements, where necessary.
For any customer who remains off supply and is unable to make alternative arrangements, SSEN will reimburse reasonable costs for alternative accommodation and food.
Customers unable to access SSEN’s welfare facilities for free hot food and drinks, can also claim the cost of takeaways or meals from local establishments, up to £15 per person. Customers are asked to retain their receipts in order to obtain reimbursement.
SSEN continues to work closely with local and national resilience partners to help coordinate the community response. As part of this, support continues to be prioritised for the most vulnerable Priority Services customers.
Rest Centres have been established at the following locations and will remain in place until customers in those locations have been restored:
- Ballater at the Victoria and Albert Hall with hot food van outside.
- Fintry, Knockraich Farm.
- Strathyre Primary School.
- Aberfoyle Primary School.
- Doune Primary School.
In addition, the following welfare facilities will continue to support customers who remain off supply, providing hot food and drinks from 7am to until 10pm.
Teams from SSEN are using 4X4 vehicles to deliver hot food and drinks to customers in some of the more remote and isolated communities:
- Aboyne, Park Hotel car park.
- Alford, Transport Museum Car Park.
- Glenshee, Dalrulzion Hotel.
- Kintore, Primary School.
- Kirriemuir, Near Bon Scott Statue.
- Rhynie, North Parish Church, Essie Road.
- Strathdon, Layby at Bellabeg.
- Tarland, The Square.
- Torphins, The Square.
- Turriff, Tesco Car Park.
Mark Rough, director of customer operations at SSEN, said: “Our engineers continue to make good progress and we aim to restore the majority of homes currently off supply through the course of today.
"We would once again like to apologise to all customers affected by Storm Arwen and assure them all efforts are being made to accelerate restoration where possible.
“We are, however, still experiencing challenging conditions and multiple faults on individual circuits, with complex repairs under way that are taking longer than normal to rectify.
"The extent of the damage is also hampering the ability to re-route the network to restore supply and regrettably, restoration times for some customers will extend beyond today.
“In recognition of the significant impact on our customers, we have offered to reimburse all reasonable accommodation costs for any customer unable to make alternative arrangements.
"Local welfare provision continues to be provided in the main areas affected, with customers also able to reclaim the cost of takeaways or local meals up to £15 per meal, per person. We ask customers to keep hold of their receipts to obtain reimbursement.
“Finally, we would like to thank communities across the north of Scotland for their continued support and patience; local resilience partners for their ongoing support; and our teams of engineers, tree cutters and support staff who have been working flat out in some of the most challenging conditions we have experienced in decades."
