SSEN Distribution has completed a major upgrade to the electricity network in the Inverneil area of Argyll.

Central to the project has been the replacement of around 6km of underground cables. The existing cables had been in place since the middle of last century, and as such were reaching the end of their working lifespan. SSEN Distribution's investment has seen these replaced with the latest versions, ensuring a robust and resilient power supply for many years to come.

With the majority of new cable being installed under the A83, which serves as the main route for the Kennacraig to Islay ferry traffic, SSEN carried out their essential project over four ‘out-of-season' stages, working outwith the summer months when traffic volumes traditionally increase, such is the popularity of the area with holidaymakers.


As well as replacing the underground cable, the £1.4m project also saw SSEN teams working on the overhead network, replacing and removing wooden poles as well as carrying out upgrade works at their substation and switching station at Inverneil, with the works there meaning that engineers now have more options to "re-route" customers' supplies in the rare event of a fault, minimising the length of time they are without power.

Allan McKechnie, SSEN Distribution's Project Manager, said: "With communities in this part of Argyll being more remote and very rural, it's really important for our customers to know that they have a reliable supply of electricity. The work we've been doing these past two years means that the equipment on our local network is robust, resilient and able to withstand the rigors of a typical Scottish winter, not just now, but for many years to come."