Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has completed reconnection of all customers who lost power in its north of Scotland licence area during Storm Éowyn, with the final customers reconnected on the evening of 29 January 20251. The company said it restored power to 92,000 customers whose supplies were interrupted, using a 1,100-strong team1.
The storm, described by the Met Office as "the strongest storm in a decade"1, brought wind gusts of up to 100mph on exposed coasts and hills in western areas, with speeds of around 90mph recorded on Islay and in Machrihanish2. SSEN said most of the damage was caused by trees falling on overhead lines and debris picked up by storm-force winds3. The main affected areas were large parts of Argyll and the Kintyre peninsula, southern Perthshire and the Trossachs, broadly reflecting the area covered by the Met Office's most severe Red Warning for wind3.
Progress was reported across several days. On 24 January, supplies had been restored to around 60,000 customers by 9:30pm, with 37,320 still without power2. By 11.30am on 25 January, almost 70,000 had been reconnected, with around 20,000 awaiting restoration3. By 7:30pm that day, more than 78,000 had been reconnected and 12,000 households remained off supply4. By 5pm on 26 January, almost 88,000 had been reconnected, with around 4,700 still awaiting restoration, particularly in Argyll, Kintyre and on island communities5. By 4:30pm on 28 January, more than 91,000 had been reconnected, with 240 households still without power6.
"Éowyn was an exceptional storm, which required an exceptional response from us. More than one thousand people have been working hard since the storm first hit to reconnect homes and support customers, while a huge volume of network reconstruction has been done in challenging conditions."
SSEN's support package included £30 per person for every day without power for customers off supply for more than 12 hours, to cover food and drink, with claims made against receipts3. Customers on the Priority Service Register could claim reasonable costs for alternative accommodation if without power for over 24 hours, and if a power cut was estimated to last beyond 48 hours, all customers could benefit from this support3. Under Ofgem's Guaranteed Standards, customers without power for more than 48 hours were entitled to £85 compensation, plus a further £40 for every additional 6 hours past that point, issued automatically without the need to claim5.
| Support | Threshold | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Food and drink costs | More than 12 hours off supply | £30 per person per day |
| Alternative accommodation (Priority Service Register) | More than 24 hours off supply | Reasonable costs |
| Alternative accommodation (all customers) | Estimated cut beyond 48 hours | Reasonable costs |
| Ofgem Guaranteed Standards compensation | More than 48 hours off supply | £85, plus £40 per additional 6 hours |
SSEN reported that its customer contact centre handled more than 23,000 contacts by 26 January5, rising to 30,000 by 28 January, with average call waiting times of under one minute6. The Power Track online service recorded nearly 500,000 visits6. Around 7,000 hot meals were provided free of charge in affected areas6, and proactive contact was made with more than 12,000 vulnerable customers1.
Why it matters for households
Storm Éowyn exposed how quickly a household's power supply can be interrupted by damage to overhead lines, and how long restoration can take in remote areas where fallen trees block access3. For homes dependent on electricity for heating, cooking, medical equipment or communications, several days off supply is a significant disruption. SSEN's Priority Services Register offers additional support during such events, including accommodation costs and proactive welfare contact3. The event also illustrates the role of backup power arrangements for households in areas served by overhead networks, and the value of tracking restoration times through network tools. Households in central Scotland, Merseyside and North Wales are served by a different network operator, SP Energy Networks, and would deal with that company in a similar event.
What happens next
SSEN said compensation under Ofgem's Guaranteed Standards will be issued automatically in the coming weeks, with no need for customers to claim or contact the company5. Food, drink and accommodation claims can be made retrospectively at ssen.co.uk/stormclaim, with receipts required1. SSEN said it would continue to support customers through its welfare operation while final reconnection works were completed6.
Sources6 cited
- A thank you to our customers following Storm Éowyn - SSEN, ssen.co.uk
- Storm Éowyn continues to affect electricity supplies for our north of Scotland customers - SSEN, ssen.co.uk
- Massive operation to reconnect customers continues following Storm Éowyn - SSEN, ssen.co.uk
- An update on our progress reconnecting customers after the "strongest storm in years". - SSEN, ssen.co.uk
- Huge effort to reconnect customers continues after Storm Éowyn - SSEN, ssen.co.uk
- Final push to reconnect customers who lost power in Storm Éowyn - SSEN, ssen.co.uk