As of 4.30pm this afternoon, electricity supplies have now been successfully restored to over 42,000 properties, with around 1,300 properties currently off supply.
The areas that continue to be impacted are mainly concentrated in Aberdeenshire, including parts of Kennethmont, Lonmay, Rathen, Oyne, Methlick, Glenbuchat, Kininmonth, Pitcaple, Insch and surrounding areas.
SSEN is confident the majority of customers impacted by Storm Otto will have their power restored today, with small pockets of customers affected by localised and rural faults to be restored by tomorrow evening at the latest.
Mobile food vans continue to support customers who remain off supply in the main areas still affected, with the following locations serving food and drinks until 9pm this evening:
- Aberchirder (Fogie), Car Park at the Square
- Huntly, Car Park at Market Muir
- Insch, Outside the Church
- Kennethmont, Clatt Village Hall Car Park (from 4:30pm)
In line with SSEN’s established welfare policy, any customer who has been off supply for longer than 12 hours is also entitled to claim up to £30 for food, per day. Customers are asked to keep copies of receipts for any claims.
For those customers on SSEN’s Priority Services Register who will remain off supply for a second night, SSEN is now offering to reimburse them should they wish to make alternative accommodation arrangements for tonight. SSEN continues to proactively contact those customers to keep them updated and to allow them to consider making alternative arrangements.
Mark Rough, Operations Director at SSEN Distribution, said:
“We continue to make good progress restoring power to the remaining customers still off supply following the impacts of Storm Otto.
“Our teams will continue to work hard into the evening to carry out repairs and restore power to those who remain off supply, and we remain confident the majority of customers impacted will be restored today, with all customers expected to be restored by tomorrow evening at the latest.
“We continue to work closely with our resilience partners to support our customers as required, particularly those on our Priority Services Register, and would encourage anyone who may need additional support to contact our dedicated teams on the power cut helpline, 105.”
The next update will be provided this evening.
Advice for customers
We are urging people not to approach any damaged equipment and instead, to report it by calling 105 or via our Power Track App and engineers will investigate as soon as possible.
Customers are also being encouraged to be prepared for the possibility of ongoing disruption to supplies by:
- Saving the 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
- Visiting our Power Track website to get details on power cuts and restoration times, as well as to report power cuts and network damage. Or download the Power Track app on Apple or Android.
- Following SSEN on Facebook and Twitter for regular updates
Priority Services Register
SSEN’s Priority Services Register (PSR) provides extra help and support during a power cut. Customers are eligible for our free priority services 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.
Priority Services
