Electric network upgrade

£1.8m project

Work is underway on the electricity network in a West Lothian community.

SP Energy Networks’ sixmonth £1.8 million project will target Kirknewton, as well as Abercorn, Blackness, South Queensferry and Newton Village.

The project, which began in March, will see ageing equipment replaced with new technology which will allow SP Energy Networks to provide a more reliable network to customers. The majority of the equipment currently keeping the area connected is over 40 years old and is nearing the end of its lifespan. In total, the company will be replacing 321 poles, 23.51km of overhead lines, 35 substations and will be installing 3.16km of new cables to the benefit of 836 homes and businesses. The work will also make the network more resilient to severe weather.

The company say there will be times over the next six months when customers may see interruptions to their electrical supplies, but where this is necessary, a member of the SP Energy Networks’ team will visit customers and send them a letter in the post to confirm details. Interruptions to supplies would be for no longer than one day and would normally be during working day hours.

Guy Jefferson, customer service director at SP Energy Networks, said: “We’re committed to maintaining and improving the electricity network for all of our customers, whether they live in the city centre or rural villages. The improvements will make power cuts less likely in the future and safeguard the network for years to come.”