SSEN Distribution has completed an £8.7m upgrade of the 132kV overhead line running between Fleet and Aldershot in east Hampshire, the network operator said. The work, finished ahead of schedule, covers 37 towers and benefits more than 60,000 customers in the area1.
The project replaced ageing Twin Lynx conductors with larger single Rubus replacements, working at heights of up to 100 feet, and upgraded foundations at ground level. At one location, two stretches of 11kV network were undergrounded to allow the 132kV lines above to be upgraded more safely1. SSEN said the completed work leaves tens of thousands of households with a more resilient and reliable supply in time for the start of winter, and future-proofs the network for more capacity as homes and businesses move to heat pumps and electric vehicles, or install solar panels and export power to the grid1.
Because only one circuit could be worked on at a time, some of the work was carried out overnight. Running all power through the remaining circuit puts extra load on those wires, so parts of the job were done when demand was lower. On weekend evenings, demand dropped far enough that both circuits could be switched off while customers stayed connected by other routes1. Scaffolding was erected where the network crosses a road, to catch a conductor in the unlikely event of it snapping during replacement. It was partly built in advance to a safe distance, raised to full height overnight at weekends, then lowered before Monday morning when the single circuit was restored ahead of demand rising again1.
SSEN said the project was designed and delivered in-house, with its own lines people, internal projects team and control room, supported by contractors including Voltage Solutions, OCU Nettworx, Brand Energy, Energyline, A&I Engineering, OCS Security and Sunbelt1.
"We've invested £8.7m in this upgrade, and we finished works ahead of schedule."
"The sites were managed expertly by our own internal projects team, and the smooth running of the project's delivery is one key reason why works finished ahead of schedule."
Why it matters for households
The Fleet to Aldershot line is part of the distribution network that carries electricity to homes in east Hampshire, so its condition bears directly on how reliably power reaches those properties. SSEN states the upgrade benefits more than 60,000 customers and improves resilience and reliability1. For a household, that translates into fewer interruptions from faults on this stretch of overhead line, and a network better able to carry the higher loads that come with electrified heating and vehicle charging, or with rooftop solar exporting to the grid1. The work was carried out without disconnecting customers, with supply maintained through the remaining circuit or alternative routes while each section was renewed1.
What happens next
SSEN says the stretch of network is now back to "business as usual", delivering electricity to homes and businesses, and that the investment will do so for decades to come1. No further dated works on this route are given. The announcement was published on 18 December 2025; the development is dated 1 December 2025.