SSEN Distribution has announced the successful completion of a £5 million electricity network upgrade work, which saw power lines between Dounreay in Caithness and Melvich in Sutherland replased.

The improvemet works have made supplies to over 1,200 customers more robust, secure and resilient, minimising the risk of power cuts.

SSEN Distribution own and operate the overhead lines, wooden poles and underground cables that supply customers with power across the north of Scotland. They have been working over the past 12 months to make sure our infrastructure between these two north coast communities is in the best-possible condition.


The main part of their £5m investment programme has been the replacement of the two existing lines between Dounreay and Melvich. This has been a major undertaking, which has seen SSEN's own teams, as well as those from principal contractor, Keltbray, replacing the old poles and lines with new, stronger versions. This upgrade will also provide greater security of supply for customers in Strathy, Bettyhill, Tongue and the surrounding areas.

John Shanks, SSEN's Project Manager for the project, 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."