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SSEN’s Not Worth The Risk campaign highlights dangers of tampering with electricity supplies


By Staff Reporter

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SSEN's Not Worth The Risk campaign is highlighting the dangers of interfering with power supplies.
SSEN's Not Worth The Risk campaign is highlighting the dangers of interfering with power supplies.

Dodgy dealers are illegally tapping into the electricity network to gain free power, make extra connections and even run cannabis farms.

Network operator Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) says the substandard work is putting lives at risk – not just the person tampering with the live power cables but anybody in that or nearby properties too.

There have been nearly 550 incidents where its network – which covers the north of Scotland as well as central southern England – has been deliberately damaged by those seeking to use supplies illegally in the last 12 months.

Now, SSEN is launching a new campaign to fight back against the temptation to tamper with its supplies.

The ‘Not Worth The Risk’ campaign aims to raise awareness of the dangers of tampering with and altering electricity supplies across its infrastructure.

Using the hashtag #NotWorthTheRisk, the network operator is using social media to help spread the message on the potentially fatal consequences that can result in customers attempting to install, change or misuse their power supply.

It says these illegal connections and illegal service alterations include domestic and commercial customers moving the location of their meters, creating additional connections to outbuildings or gardens, and even bypassing network equipment to run illegal cannabis plants in domestic properties.

Head of SSEN’s network protection team, Shane Scarsbrook said: “Our team is responsible for ensuring the safety, security and integrity of the company’s equipment across its network and we want to use this campaign to protect both our network and our customers. Any alteration or illegal connection made to our network, no matter how small, has the potential to result in serious injury, or even worse.

“Interfering with the electricity network can have far-reaching consequences; even if you are lucky enough to avoid immediate and possibly fatal injury, you have now created a situation that can easily result in fire spreading through a property, endangering the lives of occupants and those in neighbouring properties.”

SSEN is asking anyone who comes across what looks like illegal interference to its electricity network, or sees something that doesn't look right, to stay away from the network and immediately call the network protection team for free on 0800 0481618.

It will arrange for an engineer to attend as soon as possible to check the situation and, if necessary, make it safe again. All reports are dealt with in the strictest confidence and it says the reporter's name will not be used anywhere else.

The network operator is also encouraging customers to use the #NotWorthTheRisk hashtag and help spread the word through their social media channels.

Mr Scarsbrook added: “Any customer who attempts to alter the electricity network – no matter how innocent their intention – is taking their life in their hands. The negative outcome of their actions can be life-changing, not just for them, but for their family and friends.

“It’s just not worth the risk and we’re encouraging our customers to look out for, and to report, any suspicious signs of damage or alteration that they might spot on our network. By helping us to highlight the dangers and spread the message, they could be helping to save a life.”

SSEN is also keen to highlight the illegality of unauthorised and ‘DIY’ work on their network, as it constitutes “tampering and damage to plant” as laid out in the Electricity Act (1989).


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