4pm update

The electricity distribution network in the north of Scotland has stood up well to challenging conditions following Storm Barbara, which brought wind speeds of over 80mph and lightning strikes across the north west of Scotland, Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles.

As of 4pm this afternoon, engineers have restored power to more than 25,000 homes, with all customers that were without electricity overnight now reconnected to supplies. Strong winds and intermittent lightning is still forecast for this evening and SSEN remain ready to deal with any subsequent damage to the network.

SSEN remains on Yellow Alert and is now preparing for a further weather front, Storm Conor, which is expected to bring more high winds and risk of lightning to the north-west Highlands, Orkney and Shetland from late Sunday night and through the course of Monday. Engineers and equipment are now being moved to strategic locations, with over 600 frontline and support employees available should they be required.

Dale Cargill, Director of Customer Operations for SSEN, said:

"Our network has stood up well to the conditions but we won't be complacent and remain prepared to respond quickly to disruption to supplies, where it is safe to do so. I'd like to thank customers for their patience as our teams work to restore power in these challenging conditions.

"The safety of our customers and engineers will remain a priority as we now look to prepare for the high winds and risk of lightning that Storm Conor is expected to bring. We are acutely aware of the time of year and the increasing concern this brings and would like to reassure our customers we will be doing all we can to keep disruption to a minimum."

People can qualify for the Priority Service Register (PSR) 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 a young baby or receive a state pension.

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

In anticipation of Storm Barbara SSEN increased the levels of frontline and support staff and moved engineers, equipment and welfare facilities to strategic areas, including the islands, that might have been impacted by the weather event.

  • 600 frontline and support staff are on hand across the Christmas period, some five times the normal number who would be available
  • Around 100 mobile generation units are strategically positioned to help restore power in the event of faults to the network
  • 20 welfare vans are available and ready to be deployed to affected areas, should they be required
  • Outbound calls being made to over 1,400 customers on SSEN's Priority Service Register to assess needs and offer extra assistance, where required
  • Given disruption to travel services, helicopters and fixed-wing planes are on standby to assist with the movement of engineers and equipment, where it is safe to do so

SSEN's network is resilient in these weather conditions but in anticipation of possible disruption to power supplies, it encourages customers to be prepared. This can done by:

  • Saving the new emergency power cut number '105' to your phone to use if your power goes off, or if you see any damage to the electricity network.
  • Downloading SSEN's Power Track app to give you details of power cuts and restoration times.
  • Going to SSEN's Ready For Winter pages where there is a wealth of advice and information on how to prepare for a possible loss of power.
  • Following SSEN on Facebook and Twitter for regular updates

Members of the public should not approach fallen or damaged power lines, which may still be live.