A substantial programme of works by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) to upgrade and enhance power supplies across two Dorset towns has been completed on time and to budget.
Through a £4.6 million investment and some 38,000 hours of work, the distribution operator has upgraded a 32 kilometer circuit on the electricity infrastructure serving the key Dorset towns of Poole and Shaftesbury, and the areas between which are served under the same network; boosting the strength of power supplies to around 160,000 local homes and businesses.
The refurbishment programme has been carried out in phases over the past 14 months and includes:
- The installation of 160 kilometres of new conductor cables
- 621 new insulator sets installed across 173 overhead network towers
- 19 sections of overhead lines undergrounded
The completed project also ensures the future-proofing of the network to accommodate the needs of those living and working in area, as they look to meet their net zero goals by moving to more low carbon technologies, such as heat pumps and electric vehicles.
Daniel Rees is SSEN's Project Manager for this latest upgrade to the Dorset network. He said:
"SSEN is delighted to have completed this substantial programme of works in Poole and Shaftesbury and my team and I would very much like to thank our customers in the area for their patience and understanding while we worked to upgrade their network.
“This is one of several recent and ongoing projects that SSEN is carrying out to ensure that the wider area of Dorset has a resilient and flexible network suitable for customers’ needs now and for many years to come.”
Daniel continued:
“At SSEN, we are committed to investing in our local networks to strengthen power supplies against severe weather events, while building in the flexibility that will enable our local communities to adapt to the new technologies available and help them achieve their net zero ambitions.”
With an estimated uptake of 13,488 electric vehicles across Poole by 2030 and the addition of over 5,100 heat pumps and nearly 3,000 solar panels, SSEN is working to develop and build power supplies that suit the needs of residents and businesses now and in to the future. By upgrading critical areas of Dorset's electricity network, SSEN is helping local communities achieve their decarbonisation ambitions through a power supply and infrastructure that's fit for purpose and fit for the future.
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