SSEN Distribution, the company that operates the electricity distribution network in the area, has announced a £900,000 upgrade of supplies in the east side of Dunblane. The first phase of work is due to start on 15 April 2024 and be completed in June1.
The programme covers the replacement of over 8km of the town's existing underground cables and the installation of new equipment in eight local substations1. Work is split into two phases. Phase One will include sections of Glen Road, Leewood Road, The Crescent and Ochlochy Park. Phase Two will take in the Fourways Roundabout, Perth Road, Beech Road and Bleaching Park1. The second phase is at the planning stage and is expected to start shortly after Phase One ends, though no start date has been reported1.
Gary Edwards, SSEN Distribution's Project Manager, said the investment was intended both to strengthen existing supplies and to allow for future growth in the area:
"By replacing over 8km of underground cable and carrying out upgrades at eight of the local substations, we're not only making the network in this part of Dunblane stronger and so minimising the risk of power cuts, our project is also going to increase network capacity, which is a major enabler of the country's net zero ambitions as it supports customers as they transition to low carbon technologies such as EVs and heat pumps."
Mark Westwood, SSEN Distribution's Customer Relationship Manager, said sections of road where work takes place would be closed or partially closed for safety, with diversions and traffic management signposted in advance, and apologised in advance for any inconvenience1.
| Phase | Streets named | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Phase One | Glen Road, Leewood Road, The Crescent, Ochlochy Park | Starts 15 April 2024, completed in June |
| Phase Two | Fourways Roundabout, Perth Road, Beech Road, Bleaching Park | Planning stage; expected shortly after Phase One ends |
Why it matters for households
The work is on the local distribution network, the lower-voltage system that carries electricity from the wider grid to individual properties, rather than on the national transmission network. Households in the affected streets can expect temporary road closures or partial closures while cables are replaced, and SSEN Distribution has said diversions will be signposted in advance1.
The stated aims are fewer interruptions to supply and more capacity on the local network. Capacity matters to a home's energy independence because it sets a practical limit on how much can be drawn at once, for example when charging an electric vehicle or running a heat pump alongside ordinary household demand. SSEN Distribution has said the project is designed to support customers making that transition and to take account of future expansion of homes and businesses in Dunblane1. The announcement does not state how many properties are connected in the affected area, or how much additional capacity the upgrade will provide; those figures have not been reported1.
Householders elsewhere in the country who are unsure which company runs their local network can check the who is my distribution network operator guide, and there is further background on SSEN's networks, storms and priority services and on the national supply arrangements more broadly.
What happens next
Phase One runs from 15 April 2024 and is due to be completed in June. Phase Two is at the planning stage, with a start expected shortly after Phase One finishes; no date has been given1.