16,000 properties still without power as SSEN picks up pieces following Storm Otto
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Teams from Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution continue to respond to the impacts of Storm Otto which resulted in widespread damage to SSEN’s electricity network in the north of Scotland.
As of 4.30pm this afternoon, electricity supplies have been successfully restored to over 27,000 properties, with around 16,000 properties currently off supply.
The areas that continue to be impacted are mainly concentrated in Aberdeenshire, including parts of Hatton, Huntly, Insch, Maud, Mintlaw, Banchory and surrounding areas, rural Moray and pockets of customers across the Highlands.
In preparation for Storm Otto, SSEN enacted its well-established resilience plans, mobilising additional teams and equipment to the main areas forecast to be impacted. Mobile generation will be utilised to support with restoration efforts.
Additional resources have been deployed to the main areas still affected, with around 600 field and support staff doing all they can to restore power to those who remain off supply and ensure customers are supported.
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SSEN expects its teams to continue to make significant progress in restoring power to customers throughout the course of today and into this evening. However, due to the widespread extent of the damage and ongoing challenges accessing faults due to fallen trees and road closures, full restoration of customers will extend into the weekend, with some customers in rural areas to be off supply for more than 48 hours.
SSEN recognises the impact this may have on customers and continues to provide proactive updates, working closely with local resilience partners to coordinate welfare arrangements and identify customers who may need additional support. SSEN has proactively contacted over 130,000 customers on its Priority Services Register and is calling those in the highest categories of vulnerability to check on their welfare and provide additional support.
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.
Mark Rough, operations director at SSEN Distribution, said: “We continue to make good progress restoring power to those homes impacted by Storm Otto and we would like to thank our customers for their ongoing patience and understanding as our teams do everything they can to reconnect supplies as soon as possible.
“Whilst we expect to make significant progress restoring those still off supply throughout the remainder of today and into the evening, due to the widespread and extensive damage caused to our network, alongside ongoing challenges accessing faults due to fallen trees and road closures, some customers will remain off supply for over 48 hours, particularly those in rural locations.
“We continue to work closely with our resilience partners to support our customers as required, particularly those on our Priority Services Register, and are now ramping up our welfare provisions, including deploying food vans being to the main areas still affected.
“We would like to apologise to all those affected by the impact of Storm Otto and I’d like to reassure our customers we’re doing everything we can to restore power as quickly as possible. I’d encourage anyone who may need additional support to contact our dedicated teams on the power cut helpline, 105.”
The next update will be provided at 10pm 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
Downloading SSEN’s Power Track app to give you details of power cuts and restoration times. You can also report power cuts and network damage through the Power Track app
Going to SSEN’s website 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
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.
