Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) announced on 1 September 2022 that a £6.8 million refurbishment of the overhead electricity network in Dorset is under way. The work runs from Poole through Blandford Forum and on to the edge of Yeovil, crossing more than 45 kilometres of rural and urban areas, and is planned for completion in August 20231.
SSEN said the investment will "boost and strengthen power supplies for some 250,000 homes and businesses in the vicinity of the works" through the installation of modern and more efficient equipment1. The 55-week programme includes replacing 45 kilometres of overhead line circuit, installing 230 kilometres of new conductor cable, upgrading 234 towers with new fittings and insulators, and renewing overhead cabling to both 33kV and 11kV supplies for local customers1.
Daniel Rees, SSEN's Project Manager for the works, said:
"This significant investment in Dorset's infrastructure is part of ongoing works by SSEN to ensure the electricity infrastructure is robust enough to stand up to any adverse weather events throughout the year and to accommodate the changing needs of our customers who are switching to low carbon technologies to meet their net zero goals."
SSEN said there are no planned supply interruptions for the duration of the works1. The company also pointed to expected growth in low carbon technologies in the area, citing an estimated uptake of 13,488 electric vehicles across Poole alone by 2030, alongside the addition of over 5,100 heat pumps and nearly 3,000 solar panels1. SSEN describes itself as the electricity Distribution Network Operator responsible for delivering power to over 3.8 million homes and businesses across central southern England and the north of Scotland1.
Why it matters for households
The works cover the parts of the national supply system that carry electricity at 33kV and 11kV to local areas, so the condition of this overhead network sits directly behind the reliability of supply to homes along the route. SSEN frames the refurbishment as building resilience against adverse weather and as preparation for more electric vehicles, heat pumps and solar panels connecting in the area1. For a household, that combination matters for energy independence in a practical sense: a stronger local network is what allows a home to run more of its heating and transport on electricity without the supply becoming the limiting factor.
SSEN also used the announcement to remind customers of its free Priority Services Register, which offers additional assistance during power cuts. Customers are eligible 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 or aids reliant on electricity, are over 60, or temporarily need extra support1. More detail on SSEN's network, storm response and priority services is set out in the site's SSEN guide.
What happens next
SSEN said the project was already one month in at the time of the announcement and has a planned completion date of August 20231. No further dated milestones for the scheme have been reported.