Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has extended the duration of its power supply upgrade in Sherborne, Dorset, from September 2023 to December 2023, and increased its investment in the work to £1.9 million1. The distribution operator said the change followed discussion and agreement with local authorities and stakeholders on the potential to develop the existing network further1.
The project began in July 2023 and is intended to increase the capacity and strength of power supplies to around 10,350 homes and businesses in the town1. Work so far has focused on upgrading the Sherborne Primary Substation, replacing components including transformers, switchgear and 33kV circuit breakers1. The extended programme will now also replace existing 11kV circuit breakers1.
SSEN said the upgrade is intended to keep power flowing for those living and working in the area and to better accommodate the take-up of low carbon technologies such as solar panels and electric vehicles1. Aaron Reed, SSEN's Project Manager for the Sherborne upgrade, said the extension would allow existing cable replacement to be included1.
"While extending investment and works on an already ongoing project can be quite unusual, Sherborne's network will benefit greatly by furthering these works to include existing cable replacement."
SSEN said measures are in place throughout the works to reduce potential noise disruption, and that any temporary traffic restrictions will be authorised by the local authority, with customers near the works notified well in advance1. The company said it has aligned with the local authority and the nearby school to limit inconvenience and noise1.
SSEN stated it has no planned supply interruptions for the duration of the programme, but noted that severe weather events can still cause unplanned power cuts1. It pointed to its free Priority Services Register for customers who have concerns about vulnerability during power cuts1. Eligibility covers customers who 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.
Why it matters for households
The work is aimed at the capacity and strength of supplies serving around 10,350 homes and businesses, which bears on how much load a property in the area can draw and how readily it can add technologies such as solar panels or electric vehicle charging1. Substation component replacement, including transformers, switchgear and circuit breakers, is the equipment that sits between the wider national supply and the local low voltage network, so the condition of that equipment shapes the reliability a household experiences day to day1.
For homes that depend on electricity for medical equipment or aids, or that include residents in the eligible groups, the Priority Services Register is the route SSEN uses to identify who may need extra support during an unplanned cut1. SSEN's arrangements for storms and priority services are set out separately from this project.
What happens next
The works are now scheduled to run until December 2023, rather than the original September 2023 end date1. SSEN has not reported a more specific completion date within that month, nor a breakdown of how the increased £1.9 million investment is allocated1.