Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) moved to Weather Warning status in the north of Scotland on 30 December 2024, ahead of severe weather forecast over Hogmanay. The network operator said the move reflected an increased level of preparedness and its latest assessment of the weather's potential impact over the following days1.
SSEN said heavy rain and strong winds would become more widespread later on Monday and into Tuesday, falling as snow over higher areas. Wind gusts from the west and south west were forecast to reach 60mph widely, with 70mph gusts in more exposed areas. The company said the combination of snowfall and sustained high winds can occasionally affect power lines on the network, and that it would continue to monitor its own forecasts alongside those from the Met Office, which had issued Yellow and Amber weather warnings for wind over the coming days1.
"We're moving to Weather Warning status in the north of Scotland ahead of a period of severe weather over Hogmanay"
SSEN said it was activating contingency plans and bringing in additional teams to deal with any damage to the network and subsequent faults that may interrupt customers' power supplies. It said it would issue further updates depending on the forecast1.
The company set out the categories of customer eligible for its Priority Services Register, which it said are free to all who qualify1:
| Eligible for SSEN's Priority Services Register |
|---|
| Deaf or hard of hearing |
| Have a disability |
| Live with children under five |
| Blind or partially-sighted |
| Have a chronic illness |
| Use medical equipment or aids reliant on electricity |
| Over 60 |
Customers can register by calling 0800 294 3259. SSEN asked anyone who sees damage to its equipment to stay back, not touch it, and report it by calling 105 or through its Power Track website, where faults and restoration times can be tracked. Power Track also shows the nearest EV charge point for electric vehicle owners who need to charge during a power cut1.
Why it matters for households
A move to Weather Warning status is a signal about the network rather than the weather alone: it means the operator expects a heightened risk of faults on overhead lines serving homes in the north of Scotland. For a household, the practical exposure is the loss of mains supply, and with it heating controls, lighting, refrigeration, broadband and any medical equipment that runs on electricity. The Priority Services Register exists for households where a cut carries extra risk, and SSEN's list of qualifying circumstances is broad enough to cover many homes with young children, older occupants or a reliance on powered medical aids. Registration is separate from any supply contract and does not change who bills a household for electricity. Households outside the north of Scotland are served by different network operators, and no equivalent warning for those areas is reported here. The SSEN networks, storms and priority services guide covers how the distribution business handles outages, and the national supply hub sets network reliability in the wider context of household energy security. For central Scotland, Merseyside and north Wales, the relevant operator is covered in the SP Energy Networks guide.
What happens next
SSEN said it would continue to monitor the forecast closely and issue further updates depending on conditions1. The Met Office warnings for wind cover the coming days, with the rain and strongest winds expected to spread later on Monday 30 December and into Tuesday 31 December1. No restoration times or specific fault numbers had been reported at the time of the announcement.