Work to improve Chichester’s power network delayed due to recent flooding

The completion of works to improve Chichester’s electricity infrastructure has been delayed due to recent flooding.
Flooding alertFlooding alert
Flooding alert

The £650,000 investment for the city’s network by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) had been due for full completion by the end of March.

However, after heavy rains flooded some of the trenches housing the new underground cables, SSEN engineers have had to reschedule the final part of the project.

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The works, which will strengthen the resilience of the power supply, are expected to be completed by mid-April.

Graham Humpston, project lead, said: “Since the start of this project, we have worked closely with the communities, agencies and authorities in Chichester to ensure the minimum of disruption to homes and businesses as we upgrade the city’s network.

“In any project, there will be challenges to overcome and, in this case, it has been the unusually high rainfall we’ve had in the south east over the last few months.

“Safety, of both our colleagues and customers, is always our priority and in this instance, we need to postpone the completion of this project – for a short time only – to maintain our safest working practices.”

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The programme of improvement works in Chichester has already seen the upgrade of existing electrical equipment – including three substations, and the refurbishment of the majority of the underground cable network

Mr Humpston added: “I’d also like to reassure anyone who may have been concerned that the city’s Yorkshire slate and decorative pavements near to the works had been covered over with a tarred surface.

“This is a temporary measure to protect the tiles and slate during the works, and following the completion of the upgrade, will be reinstated exactly as they were before we commenced the works.

“Again, I’d like to thank Chichester’s residents and business owners for their patience and support while we carry out the remainder of this project.”

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Network reliability is a key priority for SSEN and the area’s 27,000 customers, a spokesman said.

While SSEN does not anticipate any interruptions to the power supply during the remaining ten weeks of these works, the spokesman said the company was aware that people can feel vulnerable when their electricity goes off, especially during severe weather.

Customers can join the Priority Services Register if they:

– Are deaf or hard of hearing

– Have a disability

– Live with children under five

– Are blind or partially sighted

– Have a chronic illness

– Use medical equipment/aids reliant on electricity

– Are over 60

Those who register will be proactively contacted to warn them of potential bad weather, to help them prepare and to offer extra support where required.

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SSEN’s teams will also keep in close and regular contact with these customers during network outages to check they are getting the help they need.

To find out more about the Priority Services Register, click here, or call 0800 294 3259.

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