Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution said on 22 January 2024 that it had reconnected most customers in the north of Scotland affected by Storm Isha, and that another named storm, Jocelyn, was expected to cause disruption on its network through Tuesday and Wednesday.
As of 9.45pm on 22 January, supplies had been restored to more than 36,000 homes, with just under 800 customers still off supply1. SSEN said it anticipated being able to connect all but around 600 customers by the end of the evening, and that full network restoration would not be possible for all customers that night because of damage and difficulty reaching faults caused by fallen trees and road closures1.
The customers still off supply at 9.45pm were distributed across four SSEN districts1:
| SSEN district | Customers off supply (as of 9.45pm) |
|---|---|
| Argyll & West Highland | 338 |
| Highlands | 148 |
| North East | 50 |
| Tayside & Central | 262 |
SSE's customer contact centre team had been in direct contact with more than 8,500 people to offer help, information and support1. Customers who would be without power for more than 12 hours are entitled to £30 per person for every day without power, to cover the cost of food and drink, and SSEN asked people to keep receipts and claim costs back at ssen.co.uk/stormclaim1. Customers on SSEN's Priority Services Register were offered alternative accommodation if they were likely to be without power overnight, and people on the Register can claim reasonable costs for alternative accommodation if it is expected they will be without power for over 24 hours1.
Andy Smith, Operations Director at SSEN Distribution, said:
"Another named storm - Storm Jocelyn - is expected to cause disruption tomorrow, so we're watching its path carefully and we are ready to respond to any issues it might cause on our network through Tuesday and Wednesday."
SSEN said its network held up well to the impact of Isha, but that storm-force winds caused damage in several areas where trees and wind-borne debris came into contact with power lines1.
Why it matters for households
A power cut removes a home's electricity supply regardless of how that home is heated or powered, and restoration depends on the network operator reaching and repairing faults. SSEN's account shows the practical sequence after a severe storm: most supplies restored within a day, a residual group of customers off supply for longer, and support measures that apply once an outage passes set thresholds. The £30 per person per day payment applies to customers without power for more than 12 hours, and alternative accommodation costs can be claimed by people on the Priority Services Register where an outage is expected to exceed 24 hours1. SSEN states that all its priority services are free, and eligibility includes households with children under five, people over 60, people with a disability or chronic illness, people who are deaf or hard of hearing, people who are blind or partially sighted, and people who use medical equipment or aids reliant on electricity1. Registration is handled by SSEN, and the SSEN: Networks, Storms and Priority Services page sets out how the network, its storm response and the Register fit together.
What happens next
SSEN said it was watching the path of Storm Jocelyn and was ready to respond to any issues it might cause on its network through Tuesday and Wednesday1. The company said its priority on the evening of 22 January was reconnecting as many people as possible and supporting customers who would still be without power overnight1. No further restoration figures for the period after 22 January have been reported. Households can call 105 to report a loss of supply or damage to the electricity network, and SSEN directs customers to its Power Track service for power cut and restoration details1. The wider picture of how supply security is organised across Britain is covered in the national supply section.