Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) moved to its Weather Warning level of preparedness in the north of Scotland on 31 December 2025, citing forecast snow, ice and high winds. The network operator said the status is the first of its levels of heightened preparedness ahead of a period of severe weather1.
The Met Office has a Yellow Weather Warning for snow and ice across the north of Scotland from today through to Sunday, SSEN said. Wind gusts of up to 65mph are forecast that evening across Orkney and Shetland, with stronger-than-normal gusts also expected across Moray and Aberdeenshire the following day1.
SSEN said the warning is precautionary, but that the combination of snow and strong gusts has the potential to affect the local electricity network and may hamper access to any faults that do occur. Moving to the status means contingency plans have been activated, with additional teams in strategic locations ready to respond to network damage and faults that may interrupt supply1.
"We're moving to our Weather Warning level of preparedness in the north of Scotland in anticipation of the snow, ice and high winds which are forecast for the coming days."
The operator said its Weather Warning is likely to remain in place through to Sunday, in line with the Met Office, and that it will continue to monitor forecasts and issue further updates as required1.
SSEN listed the groups eligible for its Priority Services during a power cut. All of its priority services are free, it said1.
| Eligible for SSEN Priority Services |
|---|
| 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 |
Why it matters for households
A power cut in winter removes heating, lighting, cooking and, for some homes, medical equipment that depends on mains electricity. SSEN's own list of eligible households includes those using medical equipment or aids reliant on electricity, and homes with children under five1. The network covers the north of Scotland, where energy supply depends on a distribution network exposed to the same weather that causes faults, and where restoration can be slowed when snow and wind block access to damaged equipment1.
For a household, the practical effect of a network moving to a heightened state is that crews are already positioned before faults occur, rather than being mobilised afterwards. SSEN has not reported how many additional teams have been deployed, where they are located, or how long restoration might take if supplies are lost; those details have not been reported1.
Households that depend on electricity for medical equipment, or that include someone over 60, a disabled person, or a child under five, can be recorded on the SSEN priority services register, which the operator says is free. Being on the register does not prevent a power cut; it changes how the network communicates with and supports a household during one1.
What happens next
SSEN said its Weather Warning is likely to remain in place through to Sunday, and that it will issue further updates as required1. The Met Office Yellow Weather Warning for snow and ice across the north of Scotland runs from 31 December through to Sunday1. No further dated steps beyond Sunday have been reported1.