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Scottish Southern and Electricity Networks (SSEN) engineers begin £225,000 project to lay cable and improve power reliability for Highland homes and businesses in Ardersier, Gollanfield, Flemington, Clephanton and Cawdor


By Philip Murray

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A section of SSEN’s overhead network near Ardersier. Picture: SSEN.
A section of SSEN’s overhead network near Ardersier. Picture: SSEN.

MORE than 200 homes and businesses in the Ardersier and Cawdor area should soon enjoy more reliable electricity connections after work began on a £225,000 upgrade of the local power grid.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has just begun a three-week programme of works to refurbish 15km of existing underground cable, and lay more than a kilometre of new cabling in the area around Ardersier, Gollanfield, Flemington, Clephanton and Cawdor. They will also be installing new equipment on the overhead network, and replacing sections of wooden poles.

Branch and vegetation clearance work will also be carried out to keep overhead lines clear.

Magnus Neill, SSEN’s project manager, said: “We want to do everything we can to keep the power flowing for our customers all year round, and this project is all about making sure that our equipment is in the best possible condition, refurbishing existing parts of the network and replacing equipment which is approaching the end of its scheduled working life.

“Our work on the overhead lines also includes adding lightning protection, which will not only safeguard our equipment, it will also minimise the risk of power cuts for our customers during storms and bad weather.

“Our colleagues from the tree cutting team will also be busy, ensuring that any nearby trees and vegetation are kept well away from the lines and poles as, with the winters we have up here, storms and high winds bring the potential to blow trees over and we want to do all we can to make sure they don’t end up on our lines and cause a power cut.”

Work on the project began on Monday, and is expected to end by October 26.

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