£5m electricity upgrade completed between Dounreay and Melvich
Work has been completed on a £5 million upgrade of the electricity network on the north coast.
SSEN Distribution, which owns and operates the overhead lines, wooden poles and underground cables that supply power across the north of Scotland, has been working over the past year to make sure its infrastructure between Dounreay and Melvich is “in the best possible condition”.
It says the project has made more than 1200 supplies “more robust, secure and resilient” to minimise the risk of power cuts.
The centrepiece of the investment programme has been the replacement of two existing lines between Dounreay and Melvich. This work saw SSEN and its principal contractor, Keltbray, replace the old poles and lines with new, stronger versions.
SSEN says this will also provide security of supply for customers in Strathy, Bettyhill, Tongue and the surrounding areas.
SSEN project manager John Shanks said: “A priority for us during these works was to minimise the impact of this newly reinforced network on people’s lives, and where possible we’ve moved lines away from homes, particularly in the village of Reay.
“These upgrades, which we’re proud to have completed on time and on budget, will provide greater security of supply to some of our most northerly communities, and I’d like to thank residents for their patience while we’ve carried out these works as safely and quickly as possible.”
