Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has started work on a £20 million upgrade of Chickerell substation near Weymouth, the company announced on 3 June 2025. The project runs through to mid-2028 and, according to SSEN, will benefit over 60,000 homes and businesses across south-west Dorset1.
The work replaces and upgrades equipment that has been in operation since the 1960s. SSEN's contract partner, Aureos, will install new switchgear, replace key electrical components and build an elevated indoor switch-house to protect vital infrastructure from salt corrosion. All of this takes place within the footprint of the existing substation1.
SSEN says the upgrade will improve operational safety and increase the substation's capacity to meet future demand, including from the growing number of customers generating their own electricity in areas such as Portland, Weymouth, Dorchester and Cerne Abbas1.
"Chickerell substation plays a crucial role in south-west Dorset's electricity network, serving as a key gateway for delivering power to over 60,000 customers."
Haskins added that much of the equipment dates back to the post-war era, describing the upgrade as a timely and essential step in modernising infrastructure to meet growing energy demands, particularly during the transition to low-carbon technologies. SSEN said most work will take place within the substation itself, so it expects minimal disruption to the local community, though those near the site may notice more construction traffic1.
The project forms part of a broader programme to modernise and strengthen the electricity network across the region. SSEN describes it as one of several planned upgrades designed to support the transition to low-carbon technologies such as electric vehicles, solar panels and heat pumps1.
Why it matters for households
A substation is the point where electricity from the wider transmission network is stepped down and distributed to local homes and businesses. Chickerell serves as a gateway for power to more than 60,000 customers, so its condition and capacity bear directly on the reliability of supply in south-west Dorset1.
The stated aim of unlocking additional capacity matters for households that generate their own electricity. SSEN names Portland, Weymouth, Dorchester and Cerne Abbas as areas with a growing number of customers generating their own power, and links the upgrade to the wider take-up of solar panels, electric vehicles and heat pumps1. For a home with rooftop solar, a battery or an electric vehicle charger, the local network's ability to accept and manage power flows is part of what determines how much of that equipment can be used to its full extent. SSEN's distribution network pages set out how the company runs its network and handles supply issues.
Replacing equipment installed in the 1960s is also a question of resilience. Ageing assets are more prone to faults, and faults at this level of the network are what interrupt supply to homes. SSEN has not published figures on the current failure rate at Chickerell or on how much the upgrade is expected to reduce interruptions, so the scale of any reliability improvement has not been reported1.
What happens next
Construction runs to mid-20281. SSEN and Aureos held two community drop-in sessions in early June 2025, on Tuesday 3 June at Willowbed Community Hall in Weymouth and Thursday 5 June at Weymouth Football Club1. The company says it will keep the community informed through its website and regular communications, and directs residents to ssen.co.uk/chickerell, by email at LCD@sse.com or by phone on 0800 980 13951. Further detail on the wider context of network capacity and supply security is available in the national supply section.