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SSEN invests £5m in Moray's power supply


By Staff Reporter

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The electricity network in Moray is set to be strengthened, with innovative and automated equipment to be installed across the region.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN), which operates the network in the north of Scotland, said it was investing £5 million in the area to create a stronger, more resilient power network.

As part of its investment programme, SSEN is allocating more than £600,000 installing automated equipment aimed at reducing disruption to customers during a power cut.

Elgin is among the Moray locations to benefit from the investment. Picture: Becky Saunderson/SPP
Elgin is among the Moray locations to benefit from the investment. Picture: Becky Saunderson/SPP

The self-adapting automation system detects when, and where, there is a fault on the network, and selects the most suitable alternative cable to switch supplies to or sends a signal to the main control room where engineers can restore power at the touch of a button.

This automation equipment will be installed at Forres, Elgin (Ashgrove, Bilbohall and Cumming Street areas), Burghead, Fochabers, Keith, Rothes and Buckie.

Engineers have recently completed work in Elgin's Cumming Street to upgrade the local substation delivering power to surrounding properties.

By the end of this year, SSEN’s teams will replace equipment at Ashgrove substation, installing flood prevention equipment to protect local power supplies should heavy rainfall and flooding occur.

Macduff is also set to benefit from this investment, as engineers replace switchgear and transformers near the Moray coast.

Teams will move to Aberlour, Dufftown and Lossiemouth next year, replacing essential electrical equipment at local substations and upgrading overhead power lines serving Elgin and Aberlour to improve the reliability of power supplies, reinforcing the high-voltage network powering local communities.

Michael Hilferty, head of region for north Caledonia at SSEN, said: “We regularly invest in our network, upgrading and strengthening the overhead lines, underground cables and substations powering homes and businesses across our region to deliver a safe and secure supply of electricity to our customers.

“This £5 million investment across Moray will improve the service we provide to our customers, with automated equipment being installed to reduce disruption, ensuring local communities receive the electricity they need to power their lives.”


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