SSEN’s final push to restore power to customers following Storm Gerrit – 4pm update

Teams from Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution are continuing their final push to restore power to around 250 homes off supply following the impact of Storm Gerrit.  

Thanks to a huge effort from SSEN’s teams in the field, as of 3.45pm today, electricity supplies have been successfully restored to almost 48,000 properties, with approximately 250 properties still awaiting restoration. 

These localised faults are in small pockets across Aberdeenshire, Perthshire and The Great Glen and are the focus of today’s repair and restoration efforts. It is expected all customers will be reconnected this evening, barring any unforeseen challenges. 

Teams have continued to capitalise on the improved weather conditions, to build on the substantial progress made to reconnect customers over the past two days, with efforts now targeted on faults that affecting those final properties affected.  

SSEN is continuing to work closely with local resilience partners to coordinate welfare arrangements and identify customers who may benefit from additional support.  Customer service teams are also in regular contact with those on the Priority Services Register to give updates and offer support with alternative accommodation where necessary. 

In mobilising its response, SSEN deployed additional teams to restore power and support customers throughout the storm. Nearly 14,000 incoming calls have been taken, while more than 11,000 proactive calls have been made to Priority Service Register customers. 
 
Welfare vans serving free hot food and drink are situated at the following locations and will remain open until 8pm this evening:

• The Square, Tarland, AB34 4YL
• Aberchalder, next to the swing bridge, Invergarry, PH35 4HN
• The Riggs car park, Fort Augustus, PH32 4DF
• The car park beside the football pitch, Halkirk, KW12 6YJ  
   

As part of our support package for customers impacted by power cuts, people who have had no power for more than 12 hours are entitled to £30 per person for every day without power, to cover the cost of food and drink. People should keep hold of receipts and claim costs back at www.ssen.co.uk/stormclaim 

In addition, customers on SSEN’s Priority Service Register can claim reasonable costs for alternative accommodation if it is expected they will be without power for over 24 hours. Support with booking accommodation can be provided if needed.   If a power cut is estimated to last beyond 48 hours, all customers can benefit from this support. 

Andy Smith, Operations Director at SSEN Distribution, said: 

“Our teams have continued to make excellent progress today in restoring customers impacted by Storm Gerrit, in the face of continued challenging conditions. We recognise this has been a difficult couple of days for the customers still affected, and I’m grateful to them for their continued patience and support as our teams work extremely hard to restore power.” 

“Up to now we’ve targeted our restoration plan on repairing the faults that will reconnect the greatest number of customers, and those who have been without power the longest.  Today, we face a number of complex and very localised faults, and whilst we’re still encountering some access challenges, we’re pressing on to reconnect those final customers affected. I’d therefore like to reassure our customers that all our teams have been directed to these last few remaining areas of damage for this final push.” 

“Our established welfare policy is active, offering reimbursement for meals and accommodation, for those who’re eligible, and we’re speaking to our most vulnerable customers to offer them tailored support.  Anyone who may need additional help or advice should contact our dedicated teams on the power cut helpline, 105.” 

Once final fault assessments are carried out, any customers impacted for over 48 hours will be entitled to compensation under the regulated Guaranteed Standards of Performance. For power interruptions over 48 hours, customers will receive £80, with a further £40 for every subsequent 6-hour period they were off supply (up to a maximum of £2,000). Customers do not need to contact SSEN to request compensation. This process is automatic and will be processed as quickly as possible in the weeks after the event. 

A further update will be provided tonight   

If you see any damage to our equipment, please stay back, don’t touch it and instead report it to us directly by calling 105, or via our Power Track Website, and engineers will investigate as soon as possible.

Customers are also being encouraged to be prepared for the possibility of disruption to supplies by:

• Saving the emergency power cut number - '105' - to your phone to report any loss of supply or damage to the electricity network
• Visiting our Power Track Website to give you details of power cuts and restoration times. You can also report power cuts and network damage through Power Track.
• Visiting the "Preparing for a power cut" section on our website, where there is a wealth of advice and information, or to chat live to one of our advisors via the Webchat service

Customers are also eligible for our Priority Services Register (PSR) 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.

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