The £710,000 project involved replacing existing equipment on the network with modern and efficient switchgear, to provide a more resilient and flexible power supply to part of the town of Hythe and its 20,000 homes and businesses. Running from July 2022 to the end of March 2023, the upgrade works focused on the replacement of Lynes Common’s switchboards and associated kit, which had come to the end of its working life.

This most recent programme of works by SSEN ensures the strength of Lynes Common’s power supplies, providing greater network security for customers and helping those living and working in the area to meet their net zero goals with an infrastructure fit for the future.

SSEN’s Project Manager, Aaron Reed said:

“Our Lynes Common network upgrade, which is part of SSEN’s wider investment in the Hampshire area, has boosted the strength and security of power supplies for local homes and businesses across this area of Hythe for many years to come.

“As distribution operator for the region, SSEN is committed to investing in the latest technology which will enable our customers to move to more low carbon technologies, such as electric vehicles, with the reassurance of a strong and flexible power supply.

“Throughout the project, we were able to work without road closures and minimal interruptions to customer supplies, and I’d like to thank our local customers for their patience while we carried out these works to improve their electricity infrastructure.”

Due to the nature of the works, two Planned Service Interruptions (PSI) were scheduled to enable safe working; these were contained within the Fawley Estate and those affected were notified well in advance.

Householders were unaffected by these PSIs, but SSEN would like to take the opportunity to remind customers of the Priority Services Register which provides assistance in the event of a power cut.

Customers are eligible for SSEN's free 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
  • Temporarily need extra support


To find out more about the PSR, click here or call 0800 294 3259. Additionally, you can access further information on power cuts and how SSEN can assist you during this time, by going to: Power cuts & safety - SSEN

SSEN’s investment in this area of Hampshire ensures a power supply that suits the needs of residents now and in to the future. By upgrading this section of the local infrastructure, SSEN is helping its customers to achieve their decarbonisation ambitions.

As the distribution operator for central southern England, SSEN invests over £150 million a year in building resilience across its network, through upgrading and reinforcing the electricity infrastructure. This includes around £20 million a year on regular tree cutting and maintenance, over £12 million targeted for refurbishing overhead lines and over £2 million to install Automated Devices on parts of the network to enable the faster restoration of customer supplies in the event of a fault.