Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution moved to Weather Warning status on 7 February 2023, in preparation for unsettled weather forecast to affect the north of Scotland from Wednesday afternoon into later that evening1.
SSEN's weather model showed the potential for severe gales on the Western Isles from around Wednesday lunchtime. As the front tracked east, strong winds were forecast across the Highlands, potentially up to 70mph in exposed and coastal areas1. In preparation, the network operator said it had enacted its resilience plans and was increasing and moving additional resources to key locations in anticipation of any potential damage to the electricity network. Its customer service teams were proactively contacting customers on its Priority Services Register to offer additional advice and support1.
"SSEN Distribution is moving to Weather Warning status in preparation for a period of unsettled weather forecast to affect the north of Scotland from Wednesday afternoon into later that evening."
The Priority Services Register (PSR) provides extra help and support during a power cut. SSEN lists eligibility as: being deaf or hard of hearing; having a disability; living with children under five; being blind or partially sighted; having a chronic illness; using medical equipment or aids reliant on electricity; being over 60; or temporarily needing extra support1. The PSR can be reached on 0800 294 32591.
| SSEN advice ahead of the forecast | Detail |
|---|---|
| Emergency power cut number | 105 |
| Power Track app | Power cut details, restoration times, reporting |
| Priority Services Register | 0800 294 3259 |
SSEN urged people not to approach damaged equipment, and to report it by calling 105 or through its Power Track app so engineers could investigate as soon as possible1. It also encouraged customers to save the emergency power cut number, 105, to their phone for use if power goes off or if they see damage to the electricity network1.
Why it matters for households
The warning covers the north of Scotland, where the electricity network is most exposed to wind. Overhead lines in the Highlands, on the islands and along the coast are the parts most likely to be affected when gusts reach the speeds SSEN has forecast, and faults on those lines are what turn a weather warning into a power cut at the meter. For a household, the practical effect is that supply can be lost with little notice, and restoration times depend on access to damaged equipment once the wind drops.
The PSR is the mechanism that gives a household a named point of contact and advance notice when a cut is expected. SSEN's own list of eligibility categories is broad, and includes temporary need for extra support, so a household does not have to be a permanent priority customer to be on it. Being registered before a storm arrives is what makes the difference, because proactive contact happens ahead of the weather front, not during it.
For homes that depend on electricity for heating, medical equipment or communications, a cut in these conditions is a resilience question rather than an inconvenience. The network's own advice points to the two things that determine how a cut is experienced: knowing the number to report and receive updates, and being on the register that triggers extra support.
What happens next
SSEN said it would continue to monitor weather forecasts and provide updates if the situation changed1. No restoration estimates or further status changes have been reported. Households in the affected areas can find background on how the network handles storms and priority support in the guide to SSEN Distribution, and on what happens when supplies are lost in the guide to power cuts in Scotland.